A fresh academic session commenced in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, despite parental and educator apprehensions regarding the ongoing Ebola outbreak’s threat to children in the epicenter.
The return to schooling coincides with a rapidly spreading outbreak. Government data indicates that as of Tuesday, 2,950 individuals have succumbed to the virus out of 6,100 confirmed cases since mid-May.
Although the teachers’ union in Ituri province, the outbreak’s focal point, had called for a postponement of classes, the government proceeded with the reopening. UNICEF is collaborating with authorities to prevent infections within school premises.
Certain schools in Ituri, particularly government-run institutions, reported low attendance rates. Ituri authorities did not respond to inquiries about measures taken to prevent transmission within classrooms.
Aimerance Vahweka, a parent in Bunia, Ituri’s capital, expressed surprise at the school resumption and has opted to keep her child at home for the time being, citing inadequate prevention measures.
Education officials mentioned outfitting schools with non-contact infrared thermometers, hand sanitizers, and hand-washing facilities. Etienne Ndjabu, a teacher at a private school in Bunia, highlighted efforts to educate students on adhering to hygiene protocols, emphasizing regular handwashing and sanitizer use.
Despite these initiatives, significant challenges persist, with many schools lacking access to clean water and falling short of required funding, according to Greg Ramm, Save the Children’s director in Congo.
Children aged four and below exhibit the highest fatality rate in the outbreak at 60%, as per health data available.
Dounia Dekhili, UNICEF’s emergency coordinator in the country, emphasized the dual priority of safeguarding students, teachers, and communities’ health while upholding children’s right to education.
The current outbreak, caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, has been the fastest in the disease’s history, affecting over 60 health zones. Authorities suspect it had been circulating undetected among communities since at least February. The World Health Organization (WHO) projects that the outbreak may surpass the regional outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016.
Ongoing strikes by health workers in affected provinces protesting payment delays have impeded the response to the outbreak. The absence of an approved vaccine or treatment has hindered containment efforts, although the distribution of the Ervebo vaccine by Congolese authorities, endorsed by the WHO, offers some potential protection.
The conflict between the government and rebel groups in the eastern region, assaults on healthcare personnel, and significant population displacements have further exacerbated the outbreak.