In a statement, the school revealed that samples had been
obtained from the affected students and taken for further tests at the government chemist.
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| Ag. NHIF CEO Nicodemus Odongo |
The indefinite closure of Starehe Girl’s National School
following an outbreak of a mysterious disease at the institution could have been
averted had the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) supported a directive
issued by the ministry of education to maintain clinical officers within the compounds of secondary schools in
the country.
On Monday Starehe Girls School administration confirmed that
there has been an increasing number of cases presenting with an unknown owe of
high-pitched cough, sneezing and low-grade fever.
In a statement, the school revealed that samples had been
obtained from the affected students and taken for further tests at the government chemist.
“We are currently working with the National Government
Ministry of Health, Department of Integrated Disease Surveillance Response
(IDSR) and the Sub-County health department through the Ruaraka Sub-County
Health team as well as volunteer Doctors from the Old Starehian Society to
ascertain the cause and contain the situation,”
However the NHIF management under acting CEO Mr. Nicodemus Odongo turned
rogue and recalled all clinical officers based within the schools at the behest of
owners of high charging private hospitals who for fear of losing patients urged him to ignore the idea.
That action alone left students exposed to health issues. Parents are now being
called in to pick students either to private hospital or home. The case at
Starehe Girls School would have been contained within the shortest time
possible.
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