20 St Martins SHS students hospitalized in 2 days; Authorities say it's normal

At least 20 students of the St. Martins Senior High School (SMART) at Nsawam have, within two days, been rushed to hospital after complaining of malaria and asthma.

The first was eight students who were rushed to the hospital Sunday, Senior House Master of the school, Dominic Antwi confirmed to Gifty Andoh on The Pulse programme on Joy News.

According to him, some were treated and discharged only for one of the discharged persons to collapse Monday morning.

The collapsed person, who is currently in a stable condition, was part of 12 others who reported sick at the hospital later Monday.

This brings to 20 the total number of students who have reported sick between Sunday and Monday. He was quick to add however that some of the students have been discharged and are being monitored.

Mr Antwi has allayed fears of an outbreak of meningitis or swine flu, both of which have claimed the lives of some 11 students of the Kumasi Academy.

He explained the change of weather and the anxiety that comes with writing exams may have contributed to the increasing number of students who have reported sick at the hospital.

"It is normal," he suggested.

Reiterating the concerns of the Senior House Master, the Nsawam Adoagyiri Member of Parliament (MP), Frank Annor Dompreh has said the ailment of the students has nothing to do with meningitis or swine flu.

Meanwhile, Myjoyonline.com sources in the school say classes have not been effective because the students are scared for their lives.

“We are not able to teach because the report has created panic in the school,” a source said, adding the weather is partly to blame for the situation.

Dominic Antwi said the rains over the last few days have not been friendly to the students, especially those who have asthma.

The development in St Martins SHS come two weeks after at least four students of Kumasi Academy died from what has been confirmed as Influenza Type A (H1N1) known as swine flu.

But the MP of the area said the situation has been brought under control.

“I am monitoring the situation [so] there is no cause for alarm,” he said.

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