A fresh academic year kicked off in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, despite worries from parents and educators about the lingering threat of the Ebola outbreak in the region. The return to classes coincides with a rapidly spreading outbreak, with government figures indicating 2,950 fatalities out of 6,100 confirmed cases as of Tuesday.
While the teachers’ union in Ituri province, the outbreak’s epicenter, had advocated for a delay in reopening schools, the government moved forward with the decision. UNICEF has stepped in to assist authorities in implementing measures to prevent transmission within school settings.
Some schools in Ituri, particularly those under government ownership, experienced low attendance rates. Officials in Ituri did not provide feedback on the specific actions being taken to prevent transmission within classrooms.
A parent in Bunia, Ituri’s capital, named Aimerance Vahweka, expressed surprise at the sudden school restart and has opted to keep her child at home for the time being. Vahweka noted a perceived lack of enhanced preventive measures in place.
Education officials have mentioned outfitting schools with noncontact infrared thermometers, hand sanitizers, and hand-washing facilities. Additionally, teachers like Etienne Ndjabu in a private school in Bunia emphasized the importance of educating students on adhering to hygiene guidelines, particularly regarding handwashing and sanitizer use.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist, with many schools facing issues such as inadequate access to clean water and insufficient funding. Greg Ramm, the director for Save the Children in Congo, highlighted logistical hurdles, especially in remote regions, that may cause delays in the delivery of essential equipment and learning materials.
Children aged four and below have exhibited the highest case-fatality rate among all age groups in the outbreak, standing at 60%, based on available health data.
Dounia Dekhili, the UNICEF emergency coordinator in the country, stressed the vital need to safeguard the health of students, teachers, and communities while preserving children’s right to education. The ongoing outbreak, attributed to the rare Bundibugyo virus, is considered the fastest in its history and has spread to over 60 health zones. Authorities suspect that the virus had been silently circulating within communities since at least February, with the World Health Organization (WHO) warning that the outbreak could surpass the regional crisis in West Africa between 2014 and 2016.
Health workers in affected provinces have staged multiple strikes to protest delayed payments, impacting the response to the crisis. Efforts to control the disease have been hindered by the absence of an approved vaccine or treatment, although the distribution of the Ervebo vaccine by Congolese authorities, endorsed by the WHO, may offer some level of protection.
Various factors, including conflicts between the government and rebel groups in the eastern region, assaults on healthcare personnel, and significant population movements, have exacerbated the outbreak’s severity.