THE School management of Haimbili Haufiku Senior Secondary School at Eenhana plans to advise students who were accused of sharing needles to tattoo their bodies to go for HIV/Aids testing and counselling.

According to Head of Department at the school, Christofina Nangolo, the school management only recently learnt through the media that some of their Grade 11 students accommodated at the school’s hostel had possibly exposed themselves to HIV/Aids infections by sharing unsterilised needles.
“The school was not aware that some of the students had made tattoos on their bodies with shared needles because some of our classes take place at Eenhana Junior Secondary School,” said Nangolo.
Last week, it was discovered that some students at the Eenhana Junior Secondary School had been tattooing their bodies with a poisonous seed after several of them were rushed to the hospital with burnt skin.
Students, using the fluid of the seeds, inscribed meaningless heart shapes and flowers on several parts of their bodies. They also showed appreciation of their favourite Namibian record label by tattooing Mshasho and GMP 467.
While questioning the students, mainly from Grades eights and nine, about the tattoos, it was discovered that senior students of the Haimbili Haufiku Senior Secondary School had been behind the tattoos and had in fact been witnessed sharing a needle at the hostel.
Nangolo said the school planned to find out who the culprits were and sit them down for advice.
“We cannot force them against their will to go for HIV/Aids testing, as it is a personal choice to do so. But the school will definitely advise them to take HIV/Aids tests,” said Nangolo.
Principal of Eenhana Junior Secondary School, Rebekka Shipa, said the school was trying to get about its daily routine after the incident last week.
She added that only one student, a boy, had been admitted at the Eenhana State Hospital after over 40 students had been taken in for medical attention on Friday.