Authorities 'tiptoe' around 20 Kavango food poisoning deaths
Residents of the Kavango regions are growing tired of authorities sitting on outcomes of tests conducted into the deaths of 20 people in separate incidents of suspected food poisoning, including four victims who died this year.
This includes the 16 members of one family who died in Kayova village, Kavango East, in May last year, after eating porridge made from mahangu grains that were previously used for a traditional brew.
In February this year, Namibian Sun reported on a devastating incident in Livayi village, Kavango West, where three minors - Nahambo Likuwa (1), Nangombe Shinyemba (7) and Christoph Shiyemba (13) - succumbed to suspected food poisoning, while five others were hospitalised. No official report has, to date, been issued by the health ministry on these deaths.
Last week, three-year-old Helena Maliro died at Nyangana District Hospital in Kavango East, while five others were hospitalised after consuming cassava, a plant known to be toxic if not prepared correctly.
According to Medical News Today, cassava contains naturally-occurring forms of cyanide, and should therefore not be eaten raw. “Soaking and cooking cassava makes these compounds harmless,” an article by Danielle Dresden read.
‘Concealment’
Ndonga Linena constituency councillor Michael Kampota confirmed Maliro’s death. He told Namibian Sun that one of the individuals who fell ill during the same incident was discharged on Friday.
"The other three and their grandmother are also expected to be discharged [yesterday]. It seems like all of them are fine, except for the one who passed away, the three-year-old daughter,” he said.
Despite the severity of these tragedies, authorities have yet to issue official reports, leading to accusations of concealment by concerned citizens and officials. Efforts by Namibian Sun to obtain statements from the ministries of gender equality and health have proven fruitless, with both ministries ignoring inquiries.
Kavango East regional health director Idah Mendai told Namibian Sun that her office compiled a report on the suspected cassava poisoning.
The report was submitted to the health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe, she said, further clarifying that the report details the events that occurred, but does not specify Maliro’s cause of death.
Nangombe was not reachable for comment.
Test results
In March, questions about the 2023 deaths of 16 family members from Kayova village resurfaced when National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO) secretary-general Josef Kauandenge criticised the gender ministry for ‘taking ages’ to release the results to the affected family.
During the national budget session, he demanded transparency, asserting that the ministry's silence was an act of concealment.
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This includes the 16 members of one family who died in Kayova village, Kavango East, in May last year, after eating porridge made from mahangu grains that were previously used for a traditional brew.
In February this year, Namibian Sun reported on a devastating incident in Livayi village, Kavango West, where three minors - Nahambo Likuwa (1), Nangombe Shinyemba (7) and Christoph Shiyemba (13) - succumbed to suspected food poisoning, while five others were hospitalised. No official report has, to date, been issued by the health ministry on these deaths.
Last week, three-year-old Helena Maliro died at Nyangana District Hospital in Kavango East, while five others were hospitalised after consuming cassava, a plant known to be toxic if not prepared correctly.
According to Medical News Today, cassava contains naturally-occurring forms of cyanide, and should therefore not be eaten raw. “Soaking and cooking cassava makes these compounds harmless,” an article by Danielle Dresden read.
‘Concealment’
Ndonga Linena constituency councillor Michael Kampota confirmed Maliro’s death. He told Namibian Sun that one of the individuals who fell ill during the same incident was discharged on Friday.
"The other three and their grandmother are also expected to be discharged [yesterday]. It seems like all of them are fine, except for the one who passed away, the three-year-old daughter,” he said.
Despite the severity of these tragedies, authorities have yet to issue official reports, leading to accusations of concealment by concerned citizens and officials. Efforts by Namibian Sun to obtain statements from the ministries of gender equality and health have proven fruitless, with both ministries ignoring inquiries.
Kavango East regional health director Idah Mendai told Namibian Sun that her office compiled a report on the suspected cassava poisoning.
The report was submitted to the health ministry executive director Ben Nangombe, she said, further clarifying that the report details the events that occurred, but does not specify Maliro’s cause of death.
Nangombe was not reachable for comment.
Test results
In March, questions about the 2023 deaths of 16 family members from Kayova village resurfaced when National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO) secretary-general Josef Kauandenge criticised the gender ministry for ‘taking ages’ to release the results to the affected family.
During the national budget session, he demanded transparency, asserting that the ministry's silence was an act of concealment.
[email protected]
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