NINE-year-old pupils in Ennerdale, south of Johannesburg, are being exposed to drugs.

Speaking at the launch of the Gauteng Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) at Daleview Primary School in Ennerdale yesterday, City of Johannesburg member of the mayoral committee on health Nonceba Molwele said: "Learners get introduced to drugs as young as nine. This is when they get addicted to drugs and that leads them to crime.

"We need to prevent children getting out of school and going to stay on the streets because of drugs," her spokesman Musa Xaba said.

Forty-two schools in Gauteng have been identified to be part of the ISHP, which aims to identify and help pupils with social issues.

The health programme is part of the national plan that was launched by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi last October.

It also offers eyesight and hearing testing, oral hygiene, immunisation and counselling on sexual and reproductive health issues.

"A campaign against drug and alcohol abuse was launched this year and we visited schools to address pupils about drug reproductive health," Xaba said. "Five schools from Soweto and Orange Farm were also included.

"The programme will not only focus on drug abuse, but also HIV-Aids and teenage pregnancy."

Gauteng MEC for education Barbara Creecy said: "There are many things that destabilise education. Things like drugs, teenage pregnancy, pupils' dropping out and crime. This programme is primarily aimed at educating the pupils."