Head of the West Papua Provincial Health Office Otto Parorongan stated in Manokwari on Saturday that his office had received a report of food poisoning of 13 students of Teminabuan Public High School in South Sorong District, on Tuesday, September 27.
According to Parorongan, the students that suffered from food poisoning had undergone treatment in the emergency room of Scolo Keyen Regional Hospital in South Sorong.
"They had been treated for a few days from Tuesday to Friday. Now, everyone has returned to their homes," he remarked.
After the incident, the West Papua Health Office appealed to health offices and related agencies in districts and cities to monitor the food peddled around school environments.
He said that the recent case of food poisoning should be an eye opener for all parties.
The quality and safety of food and snacks sold in the school environment must be ensured, so as not to cause health problems to school students, he emphasized.
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"This is risky. The (provincial) health office collaborates with other technical agencies and must carry out even stricter supervision together, not only in South Sorong but also in all districts and cities in West Papua," Parorongan stated.
He also highlighted the importance of education to the public and counseling on the processing of healthy and safe food to snack sellers in the school environment.
"Anyone would not want a similar incident to occur again, so the food sold should be fit for consumption," he emphasized.
Meanwhile, based on the regulation, the Health Ministry can issue certificates and stickers on food hygiene to restaurants, snack street hawkers, school canteens, and so on.
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Translator: Tri S, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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