Hundreds Of Kupang Students Poisoned After Free Eating, Mayor Intervenes

Kupang Mayor dr. Christian Widodo when he visited a junior high school 8 Kupang student who was hospitalized allegedly due to consuming MBG. (ANTARA)

KUPANG - The City Government (Pemkot) of Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), ensures optimal medical treatment for 140 students of SMPN 8 Kupang who have health problems due to suspected food poisoning of the Free Nutrition Food Program (MBG).

The most important thing right now is the safety of our children. Don't be busy looking for who's wrong, who's right, while the children are in need of medical help. They need infusion, necessary stabilization. That's the most important thing right now," said Kupang Mayor Christian Widodo, quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, July 23.

Previously, the children who had health problems were treated at three nearby hospitals, including Lerik SK Hospital, Mamami Hospital, and Siloam Hospital. The health problems are in the form of diarrhea and vomiting.

The Mayor of Kupang and the Forkopimda ranks conducted a direct review of the students at a number of hospitals.

Not only greeting and providing reinforcement to children and parents, the Mayor of Kupang, who is also a doctor, had time to directly check the condition of the affected children.

Although the situation was observed to be starting to improve, he said, the process of medical treatment and recovery must run optimally first, then a thorough evaluation will be carried out.

Regarding food sources, he admitted that he had not received an official report. However, he ensures that he will immediately ask for complete data and if necessary, call the relevant parties for clarification and evaluation.

"We cannot immediately conclude that the cause is vegetable, meat, or rice. Everything must go through a medical and laboratory examination process first. Doctor diagnosis is the main basis for further follow-up," said Christian Widodo.

He further invited all parties to be wise and refrain from spreading opinions before the facts and results of medical examinations came out.

"The most important thing now is that our children must recover first. After that, of course there will be an evaluation. If it is proven that there is negligence, there will be action. But everything has stages," said the Mayor of Kupang.

He also expressed his appreciation to medical personnel and all parties who have responded quickly to this incident, and appealed to the public to remain calm while waiting for the results of the official examination from the medical and laboratory team.