16 treated after reporting difficulty breathing

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Sofronio Carmona National High School officials in Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental blamed overcrowded classrooms after several students came down with “sudden illness” between Wednesday and Thursday.

Around 16 students were sent to the town’s health office after reporting difficulty breathing.

Based on a radio interview yesterday morning, school principal Elena Pillado said the classroom in question can only accommodate a total of 40 students, however, classes of 80 were using the room.

The room was said to be hot and lacking enough ventilation systems.

Pillado also noted a lack of facilities and additional classrooms, pointing out, construction of a new building, which would house additional rooms, has not yet started.

Aside from the issue of overcrowding, the school’s comfort room was also poorly maintained and emitted a foul odor, which further aggravated the symptoms of the ill students.

The town’s official doctor also released his findings, stating the involved students were suffering from hyperventilation syndrome, a respiratory disorder exhibited by a difficulty breathing.

School officials, meanwhile, decided to temporarily suspend classes, while Mayor Marlene Dela Cruz said the local government is trying to find a solution to the school’s problem./DGB, WDJ