Unsafe food storage linked to school food poisoning outbreak

The Kavango West Regional Council has moved to address long-standing water shortages and inadequate food storage at a Kavango West school following a mass food poisoning incident that left 28 children hospitalised while more than 100 fell ill.

The health crisis affected learners at KatjinaKatji Combined School in Kavango West.

A joint site visit by the council, education officials and the chief regional officer found that poor cooling and storage facilities contributed to the recent food poisoning incident.

Learners were reportedly served spoiled bread, and unsanitary conditions in the kitchen and storage areas were also noted.

Council spokesperson Matheus Hamutenya confirmed that procurement processes are under way to install cooler units to improve food preservation standards.

Hamutenya also acknowledged that the school’s water supply has long raised concerns.

"It has been reported several times, even in the media,” he admitted.

Persistent hygiene problems 

Acting principal Kakondo Hausiku confirmed that the school has long faced water shortages.

“The school doesn’t have water. It is only depending on the community borehole,” Hausiku explained.

A borehole installed dried up within a year, forcing the school to rely on the community supply.

“When they gave us a borehole, it didn’t last even a year. It dried up, and then we had to go back and rely on the community,” Hausiku said.

He added that the village’s size, combined with demand from residents and livestock, makes the water supply unreliable.

“The village is too big. To provide water to everyone is a challenge,” he said.

The school currently relies on a community borehole shared with village residents. During peak demand, the school often runs out of water.

Hamutenya noted that “at certain points, the school does not have water because of the population of the community. So the learners at the school end up not having access to water."

“If there is no water, learners cannot even use their toilet facilities. They resort to going into the bush,” he said, adding that these conditions raise serious hygiene and safety concerns.

Fresh water

A team has been deployed to drill a borehole at the school, following the incident.  

“There will be two boreholes drilled at the school to ensure that the water supply is not interrupted,” Hamutenya confirmed.

The school’s principal welcomed the drilling of the new boreholes.

“For us to receive our own borehole here will make the school’s programmes run smoothly. Even the hygiene and the environment of the school will be better than before,” Hausiku said.

The principal also raised concerns about the overcrowded hostel.

The hostel was designed to accommodate 350 learners but is home to over 450 pupils, he noted.

Hausiku said the school does not turn away learners.

“Because of the ministry’s stance that learners should not be chased away, we are making arrangements to ensure that all children are accommodated,” he said.