Food poisoning kills 21 in Kavango East over 2 years

Poverty, unsafe food preparation to blame

Suspected food poisoning has claimed 21 lives in the Kavango East region in two years.

In January Ministry of Health and Social Services public relations officer Walters Kamaya told The Namibian that, between 2023 and 2025, several cases of food poisoning were reported in the Kavango East and West regions.

In the Ndiyona constituency in the Kavango East region in May 2023, 24 members of the same household consumed porridge made with pearl millet flour and home-made beer, locally known as mundevere. Victims displayed symptoms of food poisoning upon arrival at the district hospital, and more than half were referred to Rundu Intermediate Hospital.

“Thirteen members of the household were referred to Rundu Intermediate Hospital, and 16 died,” Kamaya said.

In another case in the same constituency, Kamaya says 10 cases of food poisoning were reported in February 2024 after residents at Livayi village consumed maize meal porridge, soup and mutete. Of the 10 cases – aged between one and 17 years old – four people died.

In the same area in June 2024, more cases of food poisoning were reported after eight people – aged four to 60 years old – consumed cooked cassava tubers as part of their meal. One person, a minor, died.

More recently, in January, Kamaya says the Rundu Intermediate Hospital received an influx of patients who drank sikundu (a drink made from a mixture of maize and mahangu) from the Ncuncuni constituency in the Kavango West region. Twenty people were affected – ranging in age from an infant to 85 years old – and there were no deaths.

In light of these and other incidents, Kamaya said the ministry encourages communities to seek medical attention when symptoms appear or when they suspect food poisoning. He added that the ministry conducts public health awareness events on proper food handling and hygiene, and that the ministry and its partners are “on track” to prevent further incidents.

“The ministry continues with psychosocial support to the [families],” Kamaya said.

Kavango West regional health director Fransiska Hamutenya says the region has recorded zero deaths related to food poisoning since 2023. This is despite cases of suspected food poisoning following the consumption of toxic mushrooms, cassava leaves and sikundu.

TRAUMATISED

Some of those who were hospitalised after drinking sikundu in January in the Kavango West region say they are still negatively affected.

Theresia Mambo, a family representative who spoke to The Namibian in February, said they still do not know the root cause of their food poisoning.

“I prepared sikundu and I filled the school children’ containers to carry to school. I gave [sikundu] to my uncle, aunt, grandmother and other family members. I drank some, too,” Mambo said.

She said the next day, everyone in the house fell ill, and the neighbours she had shared it with also had symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and nausea. Mambo said they were traumatised, and that the children did not return to school for almost a week after being discharged from the hospital.

She said the family are still afraid to consume food that has not been prepared in their presence, and that sourcing enough food is difficult as the family depends on the pension and social grants of some members, as well as income from farming.

POVERTY TO BLAME

Mavanze village headwoman Kasova Kambinda says drinking sikundu is normal, and helps sustain those who cannot afford three meals per day. The headwoman urges members of the community to be vigilant at all times, and says the government should deploy more health workers in villages to assist those in need on time.

Ncuncuni constituency councillor Leopoldine Nseu says their office provides drought relief to the community, but highlighted that food poisoning is impacted by poverty as families may consume unsafe food out of desparation. Nseu also urges the health ministry to release information about which viruses or bacteria are causing food poisoning.

Kavango East regional councillor Damian Maghambayi says food poisoning in the region is a serious concern linked to child neglect.

“In some cases, parents abandon their children to consume home-brewed alcohol. Minors are given the responsibility to prepare food in unsafe way and unhygienic conditions,” he says.

Maghambayi says the regional council has partnered with the health ministry to engage traditional authorities to raise awareness and promote safety measures, specifically focusing on responsible parenting, food preparation and the dangers of alcohol abuse.

Kavango West regional councillor Joseph Sikongo says safe food preparation of homegrown produce is crucial, as reptiles and insects may come into contact with it before harvesting.

“All vegetables must be washed thoroughly. Remove all leaves that have been eaten by insects before cooking,” Sikongo says.

He also urges community members to make use of the police, clinics, hospitals and councillors’ offices to seek immediate, possibly lifesaving, assistance.