Zimpapers Logo

Patrick Chitumba in Gweru
THORNHILL and Guinea Fowl High Schools in Gweru have been hit by an outbreak of diarrhoea that has left some pupils hospitalised.

Midlands provincial education director, Mrs Agnes Gudo, confirmed the outbreak of diarrhoea at the two schools.

She, however, dismissed claims that pupils at Stanley Primary School in Gweru had also been affected.

Mrs Gudo said officials from her Ministry were on the ground investigating the matter.

“Yes, we got information to the effect that some school children at Thornhill and Guinea Fowl High Schools in Gweru have been affected by diarrhoea.

Inspectors are on the ground looking into the matter and we hope by end of day we will have information as to what is happening and what is causing it,” said Mrs Gudo. She said both day scholars and boarders had been affected by the disease.

“If it were only boarders we could be saying the problem is at the schools but day scholars have also been affected. I don’t have the exact number of the affected children right now,” said Mrs Gudo.

A parent, speaking on condition of anonymity, said she was called to Thornhill High School on Saturday evening after her child fell sick.

“I travelled from Bulawayo to Gweru on Saturday evening after my daughter developed diarrhoea. I was shocked to see over 50 pupils being attended to while some were taken to local hospitals. I took mine to one of the hospitals where she was put on drip to rehydrate her before she recovered,” said the parent.

Another parent said he was worried that his child’s Ordinary Level examination preparations had been affected.

“My son is sitting his O-Level examinations and will be disturbed by this unexpected illness. I hope his performance will not  be affected,” he said.