Schools have reopened in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) despite growing concerns among parents and teachers over the risk of Ebola transmission.
The reopening comes as the country battles an outbreak that authorities have described as the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever, with the reported death toll now standing at 2,950.
In affected communities, school administrators have introduced strict preventive measures to reduce the risk of infections as pupils return to classrooms.
Gerlance Mahamba Mumbere, a school manager, said students had been instructed to avoid physical contact and sharing food.
“The children enter the classroom without shaking hands, the children avoid eating together, and neither the children nor the teachers touch each other,” Mumbere said.
“We have placed hand-washing stations in every corner of the classrooms, and there is no walking around during recess.”
Parents have also warned their children to observe safety measures both in school and at home.
Noëlla Mite Apesilam said she had instructed her children to avoid handshakes and physical contact with their classmates.
“In the morning, before they leave the house, I tell them not to shake hands at school, not to kiss each other, and to follow the safety guidelines,” she said.
“Here at home, it’s mostly about handwashing, and I make them lemon water to drink throughout the day.”
Community leaders and members of the Ebola response team have urged schools to strictly implement preventive measures, warning that failure to do so could have serious consequences in crowded classrooms.
Michel Méta Wani, a civil society leader in Ituri and partner of the Ebola Response Team, said some schools accommodate hundreds of pupils, making adherence to protective measures particularly important.
“We have schools with 200, 300, and even 500 students each. And if we don’t follow these measures, we may come to regret it, and that would be difficult for our children,” Wani said.
He added that community leaders would support measures designed to protect pupils and teachers from infection.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said it was supporting authorities in efforts to prevent transmission of the virus in schools.
The reopening of schools has, however, added another challenge to efforts to contain the outbreak, particularly in communities where large numbers of children and teachers gather daily.
Authorities and health partners are therefore relying heavily on hygiene measures, monitoring and public awareness to limit transmission as the academic year gets underway.
The response has also been complicated by limited access to approved vaccines or treatment, according to the report, leaving preventive measures at the centre of efforts to protect school communities.
