St. Martin’s students’ collapse ‘nothing serious’ – Doctor

The Nsawam Government Hospital has allayed fears of a possible outbreak of a viral infection at the St. Martin’s Senior High School in the Eastern Region.

More than 20 students reportedly collapsed in the school over the weekend, and were rushed to the Nsawam Government Hospital for treatment.

Health Ministry confirms outbreak of Meningitis, Yellow Fever in B/A Following the outbreak of influenza Type 1 at the Kumasi Academy, many feared students in the school might be experiencing same, but health officials in the region have denied any viral infection.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, the Medical Superintendent of Nsawam Government Hospital, Dr. Kofi Ablorh, indicated that the hospital’s investigations had shown that the reported cases were “nothing serious.”

Narrating circumstances that led to students being rushed to the facility, Mr. Ablorh said: “Yesterday [Sunday], in the evening up to this morning [Monday], we have had about 20 students from the St. Martin’s Senior High School. Most of them, about 18 of them came complaining of heartaches and some of them were reported to have collapsed. In fact, we did all investigations and we realized that there was nothing serious. All their vital organs were working. Everything was fine and within few minutes they were discharged. Yesterday [Monday], we had ten of them and this morning [Monday], we had ten.”

Exam phobia might’ve caused Nsawam students’ collapse – Doctor Dr. Ablorh believes the students’ condition could be as a result of panic attacks ahead of their upcoming examinations.

“We’ve seen a special trend with especially St. Martins. Normally when they are about to start their exams, some of them are found in this condition. We think that exam phobia, something of that sort, but then there is nothing medically about this. It is the normal trend especially with St. Martins. It is something that we have been seeing every year.”