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Relief as pupil suspected of meningitis leaves hospital

JABULANI Nduli, the principal of the Shakaskraal Primary School, is breathing a sigh of relief after a Grade 2 pupil suspected of contracting the deadly meningitis was discharged from hospital.

JABULANI Nduli, the principal of the Shakaskraal Primary School, is breathing a sigh of relief after a Grade 2 pupil suspected of contracting the deadly meningitis was discharged from hospital.

Two of Nduli's pupils and one child's grandmother have died in the past few weeks from what is suspected to be meningitis.

The Nkobongo and Shayamoya communities, near KwaDukuza, were placed on high alert after Mpendulo Phangindaba, a Grade 2 pupil at Shakaskraal, died a week ago. Her grandmother, who had been nursing her, died a day later.

Sengugu Dlodlo, a Grade 1 pupil at the school, died a week earlier after showing symptoms of meningitis. Health authorities are waiting for the postmortem results to confirm the diagnosis.

Thobeka Mthiyane, a friend of Mpendulo, showed symptoms of the disease a few days after her classmate's death. She was admitted to hospital with a fever, nose bleed, headache and vomiting.

"We were shocked by the deaths. It affected us all, said Nduli."

"We are pleased that Thobeka has been cleared and is back home. But we are still sending out flyers to communities reminding them of the symptoms and asking them to take precautions."

He said mobile clinics would be in operation at Nkobongo today and at Shayamoya tomorrow.

"We urge everyone to go and get treatment. It helps save lives."

Last week health and education authorities placed the town on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast on high alert, with the health department stepping up its community mobilisation campaigns and administering treatment throughout the area.

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