The new school year commenced in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, although parents and educators expressed concerns regarding the ongoing Ebola outbreak, which continues to endanger children in the affected areas.
Classes resumed amid a rapidly escalating outbreak. Recent government statistics reveal that since mid-May, the virus has claimed 2,950 lives among 6,100 confirmed cases as of Tuesday.
The teachers’ union in Ituri province, the outbreak’s epicenter, had requested a postponement of the school year’s start, but the government decided to move forward with the schedule. UNICEF indicated that it is assisting local authorities in efforts to curb transmission within educational institutions.
Attendance was notably low in some Ituri schools, particularly those operated by the government. Ituri authorities did not provide comments regarding strategies to prevent transmission within classrooms.
Aimerance Vahweka, a parent from Bunia, Ituri’s capital, remarked that the decision to resume classes was unexpected, and she is choosing to keep her child at home for the time being.
“I don’t really observe an increase in preventive measures,” she stated.
Other education officials noted that schools are being equipped with non-contact infrared thermometers, hand sanitizers, and hand-washing facilities.
“We also educate students on the importance of hygiene practices, especially regular handwashing and the application of hand sanitizer,” explained Etienne Ndjabu, a teacher at a private school in Bunia.
Experts caution that significant obstacles remain, as many schools lack access to clean water and funding is insufficient.
“There are also substantial logistical hurdles, especially in remote areas where the distribution of equipment and educational resources may face delays,” stated Greg Ramm, director for Save the Children in Congo.
Children aged four and under are experiencing the highest fatality rate from the outbreak, reaching 60 percent, according to available health statistics.
The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is now the deadliest in the nation’s history, and health officials are concerned that the situation may worsen as children return to school.
“The main objective is to safeguard the health of students, teachers, and communities while also ensuring, to the greatest extent possible, children’s right to education,” stated Dounia Dekhili, UNICEF’s emergency coordinator for the country.
The current outbreak, attributed to the rare Bundibugyo virus, is the fastest-spreading in the history of the disease, having affected over 60 health zones. Authorities suspect it has been spreading unnoticed within communities since at least February. The World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that this outbreak is on pace to surpass the regional outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2016.
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Health personnel in the affected regions have staged multiple strikes due to payment delays, which have hindered efforts to manage the deadly outbreak.
Containment efforts have been complicated by the absence of an approved vaccine or treatment. Congolese authorities have started distributing thousands of Ervebo vaccine doses, which the WHO has indicated may offer some level of protection.
The ongoing conflict between the government and rebel factions in the eastern region, along with attacks on health workers and significant population movements, have further exacerbated the outbreak.
Parents who arrived for their children’s school resumption gather inside a school office in Ituri province, eastern Congo, on Thursday. (Constant Same Bagalwa/The Associated Press)
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