The resurgence of cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever in Mubende district, Uganda, seriously compromises the progress of the last school term. Faced with the extent of the disease, local students put away their schoolbags. The fear of contamination being authentic.
Unusual atmosphere in the grounds of the Madudu Catholic Church Primary School in Uganda. The calm of the place in this period of worried class. Students are missing. Faced with the increase in the number of deaths attributed to Ebola in this sub-county presented as the epicenter of the disease, parents are choosing to keep their children at home.
"The number of students enrolled in this school is 692 students, now we only have 16, it's because of Ebola. Parents are afraid that their students will be affected by this disease, we can say that it is a pandemic.", regrets Robert Kasirye , Deputy Headmaster of Mubende Church of Uganda Primary School .
Still, school officials say they have taken steps to control the spread of hemorrhagic fever. Not yet enough to reassure families.
“We sensitized them and showed them some of the materials, which were available to us, but they still have this fear following the number of deaths of children and the elderly.'', explains David Ssali, teacher, Madudu Primary School Neck
This situation does not work in favor of the students of Mubende who will soon face the end of year exams whose calendar concerns the whole country. The authorities are sounding the alarm as the date for these assessments is fast approaching.
"The school program in the whole country is unique; the other schools are working. It is the last term of the year. They will all take their exams, they are not going to schedule a session for Mubende, the exams will take place at the same time. So I would like to propose and appeal to our teachers and our leaders to see that we just have to reinforce the measures, to see that people are not in direct contact with each other, but classes and schools need to function,” warns Rosemary Byabashaija , head of the Mubende District Ebola Task Force.
On September 20, Uganda announced the latest Ebola virus outbreak in Mubende district. Since then, the country has recorded more than 35 positive cases, with many unaccounted deaths.