No pupil has died from de-worming exercise in Aflao

Aflao (V/R), Feb. 12, GNA - None of the pupils undergoing the school de-worming exercise in Aflao has died, Dr Kwasi Asare Bediako, Medical Superintendent of Aflao Government General Hospital, has said. Dr Asare Bediako, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency, said four pupils, who developed side-effects and were rushed to the Hospital were treated and discharged.

He said one of the pupils was bleeding from the nose while another was suffering from malaria.

A number of parents had rushed to schools on Aflao to prevent their children from taking the drug when rumour went out that a pupil had died after undergoing the de-worming exercise. Dr Asare Bediako said a pupil was killed when a vehicle run into a wall of a house and it collapsed on him at Denu. He said it was the death of the pupil, which gave rise to the rumour that a pupil had died after undergoing the de-worming exercise. The exercise had to be postponed to Tuesday in some Aflao schools because of the confusion.

Ms Beatrice Amenyawu of Saint Peters and Paul Junior Secondary School, Aflao told GNA that a man was carrying a musket to the school but the wife prevented him from doing that.

She said some parents entered the classrooms and snatched the cups the pupils had been told to bring to school for the drug from them without showing any respect to the teachers.

As at the time of filing this story a white car with loud speakers mounted on it is going round Aflao Township announcing that nobody had died and that the de-worming exercise was good for the children so parents should allow them to undergo the exercise on Tuesday.