28 primary school learners pricked with needles on school grounds

At least 28 learners from Mooifontein Primary School had to receive medical treatment after being pricked with needles by a fellow learner at school on Friday.

The Gauteng Department of Education confirmed a Grade 4 learner brought syringes to the school, and she and two friends started pricking fellow learners, Kempton Express reported.

Gauteng Department of Education spokesperson Steve Mabona said according to the family of the said learner, she used her sister’s bag and only realised when she was in class that there were needles in the bag.

“The school informed parents of about 28 pricked learners and advised them to rush their children to medical practitioners for urgent, necessary medical attention,” Mabona said in a statement on Wednesday morning.

As a precautionary measure, medication was administered to learners, such as ARVs and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Unfortunately, some learners reacted negatively to the medication by vomiting, while others experienced a runny tummy.

According to Mabona, the needles belonged to a family member of the Grade 4 learner who is using them for hormonal reasons.

“We can also confirm that the syringes were sent to a laboratory for tests.”

A process to conduct counselling to all affected learners has commenced, and will continue until the reintegration of learners to the school is concluded. The school governing body has commenced with a disciplinary process against the perpetrators, Mabona added.

A police case has been opened against the owner of the syringes.

“This is indeed an unfortunate incident to occur in a schooling environment. We call upon parents to always be cautious of things that might be detrimental to children’s lives.”

When contacted, Mooifontein Primary School said they had been instructed by the department not to talk to the media about the incident.

– Caxton News Service

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