By Sorie Ibrahim Fofanah
One month after 80 people were treated in hospital after eating from a local restaurant in a Freetown slum called Mabella; there is still no clarity about whether it was a case of food poisoning as widely alleged on social media.
The Lab Manager at National Public Health Agency, Doris Harding told Politico last Friday that they have sent the samples abroad for further testing. She refused to be drawn on their initial findings saying she awaits the test results from abroad.
Meanwhile, the community people remain in fear of eating from local restaurants in the area. The food vendor at the center of the affair, Ya’Fullah Kanu told Politico that said since the incident on the 18th of May this year, her only source of livelihood which is running the local restaurant has been wiped out. “I am not a happy person at this time because I have lost my customers and that even if I resume business it will be difficult for them to return”, the middle aged woman said.
She explained how panic has spread to her business colleagues but that she was relieved that no deaths occurred as a result of the incident.
Ms. Kanu who said she has been in the business for 20 years said that she has not received any updates from the police since a statement was obtained from her.
One of the victims of the alleged food poisoning, Kadiatu Kanu explained to Politico how she was admitted for two days at Connaught Hospital and later had cause to return after being initially discharged.
A former municipal Councilor of the community, Abdul Rahman Kamara claimed that some of the victims sometimes complain of headache, stomachache and what he described as other side effects after treatment.
Of the 80 people affected by the incident 32 were men and 48 were women. Two critical cases were recorded at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) but no death was recorded.
Copyright © 2024 Politico Online (08/07/24)
