16 kids hospitalized after eating Jathropa seeds.

Written by Aguirre and Nilo Mercado
Friday, 30 May 2008

Sixteen of the 30 children rehearsing for the culmination rites of
‘Flores de Mayo’ inside a chapel in Barangay (village) Matti were
rushed to the provincial hospital after eating Jathropa seeds.

The victims were experiencing nausea, vomiting and stomach ache hours
after eating the seeds that a colleague had distributed to the group
while attending to the lectures of the teacher-catechist on Tuesday
afternoon.

Doctors of Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital said the patients aged 5
to 12 were saved from possible fatal consequences due to the alertness
of their parents to immediately bring the kids to the hospital.

Eating Jathropa seeds, commonly known as ‘tuba-tuba’ could poison
human and animals due to its toxic characteristics.

The government is urging landowners to propagate this plant to help
solve the growing need for oil and industrial lubricants.

Some of the victims said the seeds taste like peanuts; hence they were
tempted to ingest it despite reports that some of their colleagues
warned them that it could be poisonous.

Barangay officials are extending financial assistance to the victims
for them to purchase the prescribed medicines.

Matti Barangay Captain Alexander Navales said the incident will serve
as a lesson to parents and guardians. “That will not happen if some
elders were keeping an eye to the kids who still could not ascertain
what to eat or not.”

Ronalyn Bildad, 8, said she will never eat jathropa seeds again.

He mother Maribel said they entrusted their kids to the catechist at
that time as she vehemently denied the accusations they were
irresponsible parents.

http://www.arcanemind.com/content/view/69/1/