SCORES of students living on campus residences have been forced to go back to their homes as they are sick.
This comes after students at the University of Limpopo in Mankweng outside Polokwane, Limpopo, started experiencing diarrhea, stomach aches and some vomiting after drinking water from the residences' taps.
The situation started on Monday, 16 October, after campus management received reports of complaints of students suffering from diarrhea while others were vomiting.
The students are now forced to fetch water off campus with five-litre bottles to avoid catching the virus.
Speaking to Daily Sun, they said they feared for their lives as they didn’t know what was happening.
“We don’t know what is going on, but we suspect that the water we are drinking from the campus may be contaminated. Now we're forced to get water off campus with five-litre bottles, and the water is not enough to cater to all our needs,” said a 23-year-old student.
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Others said they were even afraid of bathing using water from the university taps.
“You can’t bath and finish without a single drop getting into your mouth, so we don’t want to take chances. We can’t risk getting sick and missing classes because we're in a very crucial time of the year,” said a 21-year-old student.
The university issued a statement, saying its Health and Wellness Centre has noted cases of diarrhea on campus following several consultations by students with such symptoms.
“The university is actively investigating the source of these symptoms and water contamination can't be ruled out. Therefore, all members of the university community are advised to take necessary precautions, including the boiling of water before consumption,” The statement read.
“These measures are advised until a comprehensive report is available, confirming whether the suspected diarrhea cases are linked to the campus water supply.”
The statement further indicated that individuals experiencing or suspecting symptoms of diarrhea are strongly encouraged to seek prompt medical attention at the university’s Health and Wellness Centre.
