The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah will today [Tuesday], hold a meeting with the Ghana Education Service and the Ghana Health Service over reported death of students of Kumasi Academy.
Three students are reported to have died within one week, bringing to seven, the number of student deaths this year alone.
The situation is reported to have alarmed parents whose wards are in the school.
The concerned parents have told Citi News that they want the Ghana Education Service and the Ghana Health Service to collaborate in prioritizing public health issues at the Asokore Mampong-based school.
The most recent incident occurred last Saturday when a first-year General Arts student of the School, Fodjour Furgerson Livingstone, died at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), after he was initially admitted at the Tafo Government hospital when he complained of fever.
Meanwhile, the Municipal Chief Executive of Asokore Mampong, Alhaji Alidu Seidu, has told Citi News that the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research will present a report on the cause of deaths on Wednesday.
He said, “after the three deaths were recorded, we took samples of the test to Noguchi Memorial Institute… Noguchi has told us the result will be ready by Wednesday, so we are waiting for the results.”
25 students admitted at KNUST hospital
He added that some 25 students had been at the KNUST hospital, but were responding positively to treatment.
“…we have also put some measures in place to curtail the situation. Currently, about 25 students are on admission at the KNUST hospital, but are responding to treatment,” he said.
Kumasi Academy deaths: Family of deceased threatens suit
The family of a 17-year old student who died at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has accused school authorities of negligence.
The bereaved family says the authorities failed to take proper care of students who fell sick, but rather concentrated on activities to mark the 60th-anniversary celebration of the school.
According to the family, the deceased contracted the disease when he voluntarily took a colleague with a suspected case of meningitis to the hospital. He is believed to have died from meningitis.
The Brother of the deceased, Fodjour Martins, who spoke to Citi News, said he was “still very much devastated.”
“…Because of the anniversary, they will neglect all other activities to concentrate on their anniversary celebration. That has in the long run, caused the death of my brother. The school neglected them because my brother took a colleague to the hospital and the colleague died there, but the school didn’t bother to make a follow up as to the cause of the student’s death.”
“Now we are considering the funeral arrangement and after that, we shall see how best we can deal legally with the school. They will meet my wrath. I will do my best. That one, definitely, I can assure you,” he stated.
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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana