Sombre mood as principal succumbs to suspected Covid complications
Noven Owiti and Tom Rachuonyo
A secondary school teacher in Migori County died yesterday from suspected Covid-19.
Martha Ouma, the principal of Oyugi Ogango Girls Secondary School in Rongo sub-county is said to have died after developing breathing complications.
Migori County Director of Education Elizabeth Otieno confirmed that Ouma succumbed while undergoing treatment at a Kisumu hospital.
While describing the deceased as a hardworking and loving teacher, the county education boss said the real cause her death is yet to be confirmed.
Otieno said they are waiting for the medical report to establish what caused the principal’s death.
“Ouma’s demise is a big loss to the teaching fraternity in the county,” Otieno told People Daily.
She added: “On behalf of the teaching fraternity, we send our heartfelt condolences to her family and the school community.”
The school head is said to have developed breathing complications before she was admitted at the hospital for treatment.
Otieno called for calm in the school and the teaching fraternity, noting that the teacher, did not interact with her colleagues and students, since she had been advised to stay away and seek treatment.
“There is no cause for alarm because we directed the principal to take rest and seek medication immediately she started feeling unwell,” she added.
Yet to be established
A sombre mood engulfed the school as word spread that the headteacher had passed on.
Ouma had been in isolation at her rural home in Nyatike, Migori County before her condition worsened, forcing relatives to rush her to Kisumu for further treatment.
Migori county Kuppet secretary general Orwa Jasolo said the death has shocked them adding that rumours about Covid-19 are unfounded.
“We have concerns as education stakeholders over Covid-19, but rumours on the death are not confirmed,” Jasolo said.
He said: “ The death is the third in a week and as teachers, we will be following the results of the postmortem keenly.”
Migori county Health executive Iscar Oluoch said the cause of death is yet to be established.
