64 Katsina Students Hospitalised After Taking Medication at School

By Zaharaddeen Ishaq Abubakar | Katsina Times

About 64 students of Government Science Secondary School, Batagarawa, in Katsina State, were hospitalised on Monday after reportedly developing health complications following the administration of medication at their school.

The students were taken to the General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital in Batagarawa, Katsina General Hospital and Turai Yar’Adua Hospital after experiencing symptoms including vomiting, dizziness and abdominal pain. Some were reportedly unconscious when they arrived at the hospital.

The Director of Medical Services at the General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital, Dr Auwal Sani, confirmed that the facility received about 64 students at approximately 4:30pm.

He said the students reportedly developed the symptoms after taking medication said to be used in the treatment of schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease commonly associated with infection by blood flukes.

“We received about 64 students from the government science school with various complaints, including vomiting, dizziness and abdominal pain. Some of them were brought in unconscious,” Sani said.

He said medical personnel promptly administered treatment to the students, adding that all of them had recovered by the time he spoke to journalists.

“Alhamdulillah, we were able to stabilise them by administering different medications, including antibiotics, painkillers and hydrocortisone. They have all recovered and their conditions have stabilised,” he said.

However, accounts from some of the students have raised questions about how the medication was distributed, who authorised the exercise and whether the students were allowed to refuse treatment.

Students Allege Threats Over Medication

Abubakar Muhammad Khairi, a student of the school, told Katsina Times that some individuals entered his classroom at about 11am and began distributing tablets after measuring the students’ heights.

He alleged that the number of tablets given to each student depended on their height and that those who refused to take the medication were threatened with physical punishment.

“If you refused to take the medicine, they would beat you. After we had all taken it, students started collapsing,” he said.

Khairi said the students were told that the medication was intended to treat a condition known locally as tsargiya, which he associated with blood in the urine.

He added that he did not believe he suffered from the condition but took the medication out of fear of being beaten.

Another student, Hassan Muhammad, said the incident occurred after the students returned from their breakfast break and resumed their lessons.

He said a man entered their classroom and informed them that all the students would receive the medication, regardless of whether they had the condition it was intended to treat.

According to Hassan, the tablets were distributed based on the students’ heights, and he took three tablets before he began feeling unwell.

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“We did not know the man distributing the medicine. He was not a teacher at the school, and he did not come with any teachers. Instead, he came with the school prefects,” he said.

The students’ accounts could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report.

Parent Confirms Children Took Medication

Ma’aruf Abdullahi Sani, a parent from Katsina Local Government Area, said his three children attending the school had taken the medication, although only one developed more severe symptoms.

He said the children had since shown significant improvement.

Katsina Government Orders Investigation

The Katsina State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Yusuf Suleman Jibiya, said the state government would investigate the circumstances surrounding the distribution of the medication.

Jibiya, who visited the hospital following reports of the incident, said the ministry had responded after receiving information about what happened.

“When the information reached the ministry, we learnt about the incident, and that was why we came here today,” he said.

The commissioner confirmed that the students’ conditions had stabilised, adding that arrangements were being made to provide them with food before returning them to school.

Asked who brought the medication to the school, Jibiya said the matter would be investigated.

“I believe this is something we will investigate further,” he said.

Questions Over Approval and Dosage

As of the time of filing this report, the identity of the individuals who brought the medication to the school, the authority under which it was distributed and the exact name of the drug had not been established publicly.

It was also unclear whether the exercise had been authorised by the relevant health authorities or whether the dosage administered to each student was appropriate.

Praziquantel is a medicine used to treat schistosomiasis and is also administered under certain public health programmes targeting the disease. However, it has not been confirmed that praziquantel was the drug given to the students.

The students’ reported reactions also make it important to establish the exact medication administered, the dosage given and whether appropriate medical screening, consent and supervision procedures were followed.

Although the hospital said all the affected students had recovered, the allegations that some students were threatened with physical punishment for refusing the medication have raised concerns about safeguards for students during health interventions in schools.

The state government’s investigation is expected to establish how the medication was brought into the school, who authorised its distribution and whether the exercise complied with applicable health and child-protection procedures.