KUMACA Deaths: Unvaccinated Bereaved Families Lurk Dangerously

Parents whose children lost their lives as a result of the H1N1 viral influenza have expressed mixed feelings about an initial amount of five thousand cedis offered them by government.

The vice president Dr Mahamudu Bawumia yesterday announced the package when he visited the four bereaved families, staff and authorities of the Kumasi Academy Senior High School (KUMACA) where the sad incidents occurred.

This followed some considerable backlash about the failure of the Presidency to visit the school or make any public pronouncements after the President and his vice had visited the Ashanti Region twice in the same period and had jetted off without any show of concern to the school which is not so far from the Kumasi Airport.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia assured the affected families that aside the 5000 cedis to be offered each of the bereaved families, medical bills of the students who were infected with the disease will be taken care of by government.

Some of the parents who spoke to Ultimate News’ Ivan Heathcote – Fumador about what they make of the gesture were indifferent.

Mr Fodwuor Martin brother of Fodwuor Ferguson Livingstone one of the students who died was hurt no amount of money could compensate for how he has groomed his brother and all the good future plans he had for him.

He lamented, “Ferguson was a very healthy well built guy. I groomed him myself, I advised him to come to this school because I was an old student here and I can show you the future study plans I had for him. But this is what the president can humanly do. I cannot say I am satisfied or not.”

Father of Clementina Opoku, the only female student who lost her life, told Ultimate News, “We can only give thanks to God and the vice president. He has done his bit but 5000 cannot bring my child to life. We can only take it in good faith and respect,”

Mr Samuel Ofori Attah father of Carlous Ofori the first student who died was still in doubt about the cause of his son’s death.

HE however praised the Vice President for visiting the families and rather asked that a holistic approach be taken to ensure that no more children dies of the disease.