64 Katsina students hospitalised after schistosomiasis drugs

No fewer than 64 students of Government Science Secondary School, Batagarawa, Katsina State, have reportedly been hospitalised after developing health complications following the administration of medication for schistosomiasis.

The incident was compounded by allegations that some teachers beat students who showed signs of illness, accusing them of pretending to be sick.

Counter-insurgency and security expert in the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, disclosed this in a post on X on Thursday.

According to information made available to Zagazola, the affected students developed symptoms including vomiting, dizziness and abdominal pain after taking the medication.

Some of the students were reportedly unconscious when they arrived at medical facilities, prompting their evacuation for urgent treatment.

The affected students were taken to General Amadi Rimi Specialist Hospital in Batagarawa, Katsina General Hospital and Turai Yar’Adua Hospital for medical attention.

However, allegations emerged that some teachers beat students who were experiencing the symptoms, accusing them of being mischievous and pretending to be ill.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged assault remain unclear, while there was no immediate official statement from the Katsina State Government on the incident.

The development has raised questions about the medication administered to the students, the dosage used, the medical supervision provided and the response of school authorities when the children began showing symptoms.