Hundred students of College of Health Sciences and Technology in Ijero Ekiti, Ekiti state, were on Wednesday hospitalized after reportedly inhaling chemicals used for a fumigation exercise in the institution, it has emerged.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, who confirmed the incident, said 100 students were taken to the State Specialist Hospital, Ijero Ekiti on Wednesday May 26 but some of them were later discharged after receiving treatment.
The Commissioner added that two of the students were transferred to Afe Babalola Multi-System Hospital in Ado Ekiti and Federal Medical Centre in Ido “for further treatment and observation”.
Filani said officials of Federal Fire Service, who carried out the exercise had been handed over to the police for questioning, noting that “Investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
A statement from ministry of health reads;
Today, we received information that a number of students from the Ekiti State College of Health Technology Ijero were hospitalised at State Specialist Hospital Ijero, as a result of an ill-timed fumigation exercise.
About 100 students were affected, but when the Honourable Commissioner for Health @okeanaye & other representatives of the State Government got to the facility, only 36 students were still admitted as others had been treated and discharged.
Two of the 36 students still admitted had to be transferred to @Abuad_Uni Multi-System Hospital and Federal Medical Centre Ido for further treatment and observation.
More resources have been deployed to the State Specialist Hospital to support treatment. These supplies include oxygen cylinders and IV fluids. Also, more doctors have been deployed from Aromoko in addition to the existing team to facilitate faster and better treatment.
We regret this situation and we are closely monitoring the hospitalised students to ensure they fully recover. We are also in close communication with the school and other concerned bodies to ensure that we investigate the incident to prevent another occurrence.
We understand that the students of the college are upset about the incident and we duly empathise with them. However, we appeal to them to remain calm and not destroy health equipment and facilities as this could have a negative counter effect on the situation.
This comes as the students earlier protested against the incident, damaging some school properties.
Today, we received information that a number of students from the Ekiti State College of Health Technology Ijero were hospitalised at State Specialist Hospital Ijero, as a result of an ill-timed fumigation exercise. pic.twitter.com/2Vy3mhJnUS
— Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services (@Ulera_Ekiti) May 26, 2021
It was gathered that the fumigation of the college environment by some officials of government was part of a measure aimed at preventing the COVID-19 pandemic.
