In an effort to support government initiatives, a local fumigation company has stepped in to assist Katjinakatji Combined School following a recent food poisoning incident that affected more than 100 learners.

The incident involved learners from Katjinakatji Combined School in the Kavango West region and was allegedly linked to bread that may have gone bad and was consumed by the learners.

Joseph Katjiri, owner of Joseph Pest Control, said the situation deeply touched him and prompted an urgent response. He said the company decided to offer free fumigation services to help create a safer school environment and reduce the likelihood of similar incidents occurring in future.

Katjiri said the decision was driven by a sense of responsibility and community service.

“What motivated me to offer free fumigation services at Katjinakatji Combined School was the recent food poisoning incident, which affected a significant number of learners — 113 in total. 

As a young entrepreneur, I felt a strong responsibility to step in and assist where I could, contributing towards preventing such incidents from happening again in future,” he said. The young entrepreneur said the initiative forms part of his broader plan to give back to the community while working closely with government.

“We believe in working hand in hand with government institutions as well as the private sector, fostering collaboration to effectively combat such challenges and promote safer, healthier environments for our learners,” he said.

Katjinakatji Combined School principal Sebedeus Sihungu expressed gratitude towards Joseph Pest Control.

“Yes, he and his team came and helped us when we needed them the most. The good thing is that he called us before coming. One can only imagine how much it would have cost us if we had to pay for all that, but he simply extended a kind gesture. 

This is what we need from our stakeholders, and we hope to continue working together with the community to ensure that we thrive in all aspects of life,” he said.

According to Katjiri, the school has 25 classrooms and eight storerooms. 

During the fumigation exercise, all key areas of the school were covered to help ensure a safe learning environment for both learners and staff.

“We fumigated most parts of the school. However, special attention was given to the kitchen and food storage facilities, as these areas were identified as the main hotspots for cockroach infestations,” he said.

-mkambukwe@nepc.com.na