PUPILS THROW AWAY POLONY PACKED IN LUNCH BOXES

MANZINI - If you want an informed nation, teach a child. This proved true after rounds were made in schools around the city showed that pupils were well aware of what was happening regarding listeriosis outbreak.

When Sydney Williams Primary School was visited during break time yesterday, some pupils’ lunch boxes had polony and cheese as paste. However, as soon as the pupils were quizzed on their choice of paste, they revealed that it was not their choice to have polony in their lunch boxes.

One of these was a Grade VI pupil who said he had spoken to his mother about using polony and other processed meats that were mentioned as part of those that should be discarded in a bid to ensure safety against contracting listeriosis. The pupil said before he heard from local media, he had been following the South African news updates on the disease’s outbreak  and the price that some people have paid for lack of knowledge about the pandemic.

Although he had tried to convince his mother to get rid of the foods, the pupil said his mother did not believe him, and she proceeded to use polony as paste for his bread.
“I’m old enough to follow current news and not watch cartoons. I told my mother about it but she said I was lying so here I am with polony in my lunch box. I’m not going to eat it though,” he said much to the amusement of other scholars who had gathered around him.

They simultaneously shouted about what they heard about all processed meats in order to get the attention of the reporter and the head teacher who kept quizzing them.
“They said polony, viennas and sausages could kill you so we threw them away,” said a petite girl with a grin.
Another pupil even went to the extent of showing his bread roll pasted with cheese.

During the interaction with the young ones, it also transpired that they knew the brand that was confirmed to be affected by the bacteria that causes listeriosis. 
In his comment on the matter, the school Head teacher, Thami Dlamini, said it was pleasing to see how much the children knew about the disease. He said this positive feedback gave hope that the disease may not affect the pupils as they knew more than some adults did.

When asked whether the school was doing something to raise awareness about the disease, he said since it was only broadcasted yesterday in local media, the school had arranged for a session with the health department to teach the pupils on health issues including this one.

Another school that was visited was St Theresa’s Primary School, where the Deputy Head teacher Agnes Lupupa, said after media reports warning the public against consuming processed meats, the school administration dedicated some time to lecture the pupils about the matter. She said some pupils were well informed while others appeared to be in the dark about it.

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