Suspected food poisoning kills 6 in Northern Bahr El Ghazal
By Hou Akot Hou
At least six people mainly children have died after reportedly consuming poisonous foods in separate incidences in Aweil East and Aweil Center Counties.
Wol Wol Aken, medical director for Aweil civil hospital, said Wednesday that two children from Alok area of Aweil Center died after eating toxic leaves cooked by their mother.
According to Wol, the family had gone four days without food. Three of their siblings remain hospitalized in critical condition.
“The mother collected leaves and prepared them. The two children immediately passed on after eating the leaves and three others are hospitalized,” Wol said.
In Aweil East County, four children have reportedly died on Monday after consuming unsafe food in Angot village.
Northern Bahr El Ghazal State is among the most food insecure states in South Sudan with thousands of people at risk of starving due to poor harvest.
Philip Chuor, a health officer at Malualkon hospital, said the dead children in Angot village are believed to have eaten dry fish.
“The father of the dead children in Angot told me he was suffering from dizziness and heartbeat, we have hospitalized him and his wife,” Chuor said.
Chuor said the food samples have been taken to the capital, Juba for further tests to ascertain the cause of death.
Local people in the state have blamed food poisoning on imported food.
