Anoe (W/R), Feb. 16, GNA - "My palm oil is finished" became a common phase at Anoe, Bronikrom, Obinnyim Okyena and Kojokrom all in the Shama Ahanta East Metropolis on February 12 when the national de-worming of school children took off.

Ghana News Agency investigations have revealed that on that day, several women and men bought palm oil in large quantities, invaded some schools and administered it to their children as a neutralising agent against the drug Mebendazole.

The Headmistress of the Anoe Primary School, Miss Rebecca Lamptey, said over 300 parents rushed to the school, wailing and shouting after rumours reached them that some children had collapsed while others had died after taking Mebendazzole, a de-wormer.

The anxious parents found their children busily learning without any incident and returned home embarrassed.

Mr. John Abakah, the Headteacher of Bronikrom Kindergarten, Primary and Junior Secondary School, said the school has 300 pupils and they all took the de-worming drug at 0900 hours. He said pupils in the nursery and JSS 3 who could not participate in the exercise due to inadequate drugs, complained that they had been left out.

Mr. Abakah said two hours later some parents rushed to the school and administered palm oil to their children because they had heard rumours that pupils in nearby schools were collapsing and dying after taking the drug.

He said attempts by the teachers to persuade the disturbed parents to stop the practice were met with resistance, insults and abuses. The school was therefore compelled to close at 1300 hours instead of 1415 hours.

Two pupils, soon after taking the palm oil, started vomiting and were taken to the Supomu Dunkwa clinic.

Another pupil from Obinnyim Okyena was also taken to the same clinic and administered with intravenous infusions. About 85 pupils from Obinnyim Okyena and Bronikrom schools who took the palm oil were taken to the same clinic complaining of stomachache and vomiting.

They were however treated and discharged. Pupils who did not take the palm oil did not fall sick.

Fifteen pupils of Korsah Comlex refused to take the de-worming drug due to fears that they might die from it. At Komfueku KG, Primary and JSS, anxious parents who met their wards returning from school around 1400 hours also administered palm oil. Maame Nyame, a parent who spoke to the GNA, said she felt stupid and embarrassed when she arrived at the school and found that the rumours were not true.

She said the abuses she and other parents heaped on teachers made her feel guilty.