Bamenda, Cameroon – Petina Bilingual Nursery and Primary School in Bamenda, a school in Cameroon’s North West Region, has banned sachet food after the tragic death of a school pupil.
On Saturday, November 4th, 2023, four children from the school were suddenly rushed to the hospital after they suddenly went unconscious. One of them died in the hospital hours later.
The head teacher of the school, Sama Clement, announced the ban on sachet foods on Monday and emphasized their commitment to enforcing it rigorously. “We will conduct thorough checks at the school gate to prevent any sachet foods, be they biscuits or sweets, from entering the campus. If we find any sachet items, we will return them to the parents at the gate. We are determined to prevent a repeat of this tragic incident,” he said.
Since the incident took place, there has been growing concern about the safety of consumable products available in Cameroonian markets. Experts have questioned the lack of safety measures and proper checks before such products are introduced to consumers.
While experts have said sugar could not have caused the pupil’s death, it is suspected that the powder substance contained other harmful components, potentially leading to the tragic loss of Tata Melitia’s life and requiring intensive care for some of her classmates.
There have been multiple calls for the government to strengthen control measures over imported products in order to safeguard the well-being of its citizens.
The Petina School’s decision to ban sachet foods underscores the need for increased vigilance in ensuring the safety of consumable products, particularly those accessible to children.
