By CHUSA SICHONE –

WATER samples collected from Evelyn Hone College by the Lusaka City Council Public Health Department and Lusaka District Health Management Team have tested negative for typhoid.

The results have allayed fears by Evelyn Hone College students who have been protesting and boycotting class after two of their colleagues died from what they suspected to be typhoid, due to poor sanitation at the institution.

Ministry of Education spokesperson Hillary Chipango said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the findings of the water samples have since been conveyed to the Evelyn Hone College management and Evelyn Hone College Students Union (EHCOSU).

“As the ministry, we can confirm that the results of the water samples which were collected from the Evelyn Hone College last week by the Lusaka City Council Department of Public Health and the Lusaka District Health Management Team have been released and they have come out negative, ruling out typhoid,” he said.

The Government, particularly the Ministry of Education was committed to ensuring that the welfare of all students was taken care of, adding that issues of health were very critical.

The ministry would continue monitoring the situation at Evelyn Hone College and other learning institutions to ensure that the students’ health was not jeopardised.

Mr Chipango was also happy to note that the situation at Evelyn Hone College had normalised as at Tuesday, after the institution’s management met the students’ union leadership to dialogue.

Students at Evelyn Hone started a class boycott last Thursday to protest against the poor sanitary situation at the institution and on Monday this week they attempted to march onto Church Road but were quickly thwarted by police.