Intensified Awareness Campaign Follows Soweto Poisoning Incident

Following a tragic food poisoning incident in Soweto that claimed the lives of six-year-olds Neo Khang and Katlego Mbatha, the Gauteng Health Department’s Outbreak Response team is stepping up its awareness efforts. The children lost their lives after consuming biscuits and juice purchased from a local shop on Sunday. Although one three-year-old boy is recovering at home, two other children remain hospitalised at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital as reported by SA News.

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The response team has visited affected families to offer support, conduct investigations, and provide counselling. They have also engaged with the local community, emphasising food handling, preparation, storage, and safety practices. The importance of checking food expiry labels and practising proper handwashing before handling food was stressed, along with guidance on responding to food poisoning symptoms such as cramping, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, extended condolences to the grieving families and wished a swift recovery to those still under medical care. She emphasised the need for increased public awareness and vigilance regarding the safety of foodstuffs in communities.

The department urges individuals to seek medical attention at the nearest health facilities if they experience symptoms such as vomiting, sudden chest pains, body aches, fever, or foaming at the mouth. The outbreak response team, comprising health inspectors, outreach teams, disease control specialists, surveillance officers, infection control personnel, and health promoters, will continue awareness campaigns in Naledi and surrounding areas.

Samples have been taken for further analysis, but the source of the food poisoning remains unconfirmed, pending the police investigation.

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