Parents and teachers in Ituri call for school reopening delay as Ebola crisis escalates

BUNIA, Congo — Parents and teachers in the heart of Congo’s rapidly spreading Ebola outbreak are calling on officials to postpone the scheduled reopening of schools, as case numbers continue to outstrip containment measures.

The Ebola outbreak in eastern Ituri province is the fastest‑growing on record, with 5,713 confirmed cases and 2,744 deaths, and is still spreading uncontrollably, according to Congolese health authorities.

Schools across Congo are scheduled to reopen on September 1, yet teachers and parents in Ituri are urging a postponement, arguing that the ongoing Ebola outbreak still presents an unacceptably high risk to children.

Children aged four and younger have the highest case‑fatality rate of any age group, standing at 60 % according to current health data.

“We want to resume classes, but not at the cost of our lives,” said Fazila Rebecca, a teacher in Ituri’s capital, Bunia, speaking to The Associated Press. “As long as the disease is circulating and protective measures remain inadequate, returning to the classroom means taking a risk we cannot ignore.”

The Ituri teachers union convened in Bunia on Tuesday, urging officials to assess the outbreak before making a final decision on school reopening.

“We are not opposed to the resumption of classes, but we believe that the health and safety of teachers and students must be a priority,” said Budju Lobo Isaac, a teachers’ union representative.

Ituri authorities had not yet responded to a request for comment.

The eastern Congo outbreak is spreading under extremely challenging circumstances, including insecurity, population displacement, a health‑workers’ strike, and intense movement of people. The World Health Organization says the epidemic remains out of control and is on track to exceed the 2014‑2016 West African outbreak, which claimed more than 11,000 lives—the deadliest on record.

Although officially declared in mid‑May, officials believe the outbreak has been circulating since February. It has expanded from three health zones to nearly 60, with the majority of cases and deaths occurring outside monitored contact networks and within communities.

A critical obstacle is that the outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. Clinical trials of potential vaccines and therapeutics have, however, started in the region.

Control measures such as limiting public gatherings, social distancing, and airport closures have disrupted daily life across the six affected provinces, especially Ituri, which is also plagued by rebel‑linked violence.

The government has deployed health and sanitary equipment in several locations, yet advocacy groups argue that more must be done to build community trust.

“Beyond the practical challenges, community acceptance remains critical,” said Greg Ramm, Save the Children’s country director in Congo. “Our immediate priority is to ensure that every school, teacher, and family has the information and resources needed to make the start of the school year as safe as possible for children.”

Espérance Dz’venga was buying school supplies at Bunia’s central market on Wednesday. She expressed a desire for her children to attend school but voiced concerns about their safety.

“As a parent, I want to see my children in school, but — like many other parents — what I want most is for them to come home healthy,” she said. “We fear that exposure at school could lead to children bringing the illness into our homes.”

Source link