Parents will be allowed to monitor the feeding in kindergartens after the mass poisoning in Tashkent region

In Tashkent region, all children affected by poisoning in kindergartens have recovered, and all institutions will resume operations in their previous format after the holidays, the Ministry of Preschool Education press service reported.

The department assured that all the injured children have recovered, and specialists confirmed that there is absolutely no risk to their health. It is noted that the treatment was carried out under the constant supervision of doctors, and currently all children have returned to their families. It is noted that from October 2, all preschool educational institutions will continue their activities in normal mode.

Also, the press service of the ministry said that the department’s specialists checked the work to eliminate the consequences of this situation together with the employees of the Ministry of Health and the SEP. In particular, specialists are conducting a comprehensive study of the circumstances of the incident. Since the process of organizing meals in many kindergartens in the country is carried out through an outsourcing system, the department promised to strengthen control mechanisms and, if shortcomings are identified, the contracts will be reviewed or terminated.

The Ministry addressed all organizations providing food services for children and emphasized that children’s health is the greatest responsibility. In this regard, the department called on organizations not to reduce expenses due to non-compliance with sanitary requirements or the quality of food.

It is noted that to strengthen control over the organization of meals in kindergartens, it is planned to involve a public commission consisting of parents, experts, and journalists. The experts will regularly inform the public about the conclusions of this commission. The Ministry stated that systematic measures will be taken to prevent such cases, for which department employees, together with the Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and the Ministry of Health, will take all necessary measures.

Recall that the incident occurred on September 24. In the Piskent, Buka, Bekabad, Kuyichirchik, and Akkurgan districts of the Tashkent region, they complained about mass poisoning of children in kindergartens. The Department of Internal Affairs announced the start of the investigation. The poisoning could have been caused by poor quality kefir with a fat content of 3.2%, which was produced in the Akkurgan district.

Later it became known that the mass poisoning affected another district of the Tashkent region — the Lower Chirchik district. A criminal case has been initiated under Article 257-1, Part 1 (Violation of sanitary legislation or epidemic control regulations). Initial investigative actions are being carried out. The perpetrators face up to 5 years in prison.

On September 25, the Minister of Preschool and School Education, Ezoza Karimova, and Deputy Minister Azizbek Turdiyev visited preschool institutions in the Quyichirchiq, Oqqurg’on, Pskent, and Buka districts to assess the situation. There were reports that more than a hundred children were hospitalized.

On September 26th, the total number of affected children reached 1,400. 413 children in Okkurgan district, 537 kindergarten children in Buka district, 430 children in Pskent district, 64 children in Kuyichirchik district, 98 children in Bekabad district, 285 children in Almalyk district, and 113 children in Nurafshon district came to the hospitals with complaints of food poisoning.

Members of the “Adolat” faction took control of the situation and sent a parliamentary inquiry to the Prosecutor General’s Office with a request to clarify what measures are being taken to resolve the situation. The deputies created a working group, which included representatives of the parliament and local councils.

On September 27, Nurmat Otabekov, a representative of the Committee for Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health, commented on the mass poisoning incident. A special task force has been established under the Ministry of Health. The children’s diagnosis was disclosed: acute gastroenteritis, which is typically caused by rotaviruses or intestinal bacteria.

Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies detained seven people involved in the poisoning of children. Three of the detainees are heads of a food industry enterprise. Another four people are heads of outsourcing companies that supplied food products to kindergartens. The case was transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

The press service of the Children’s Ombudsman’s Office issued a statement regarding the need to review the control over the child nutrition sector in schools and kindergartens amid the incident. It was reported that it is necessary to eliminate corruption risks by minimizing the human factor when concluding contracts for the provision of food services for children.

On September 28, the First Deputy Chairman of the Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare and Public Health Committee, Nurmat Atabekov, reported that another 182 children who were poisoned in kindergartens remain in hospitals. In total, according to Atabekov, more than 960 children were hospitalized.

Further, for a thorough, complete, and high-quality investigation, the case was taken under the control of the Prosecutor General’s Office. Also, a special working group was formed under the leadership of the First Deputy Prosecutor General, Bahriddin Valiyev, and a full medical examination of all preschool children was organized. As of 12:00 on September 29, 38 children remained in hospitals, but Nurmata Otabekova emphasized that they will also be discharged soon.