By Ben Musanje
As schools across Uganda prepare to reopen next week, the Ministry of Health has rolled out new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) aimed at preventing and controlling the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in education institutions amid the ongoing outbreak.
The guidelines, released in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sports, are intended to help schools maintain safe learning environments while minimizing the risk of transmission among learners, teachers, parents, and visitors.
According to the Ministry of Health, schools remain highly vulnerable environments because of the close interaction among students, staff, and surrounding communities. The SOPs therefore apply to all categories of learning institutions, including nursery schools, primary and secondary schools, boarding and day schools, universities, vocational institutions, and special needs schools.
In a statement circulated to schools and local government authorities, Ministry of Education Spokesperson Dr. Dennis K. Mugimba urged stakeholders to widely share and implements the directives ahead of reopening.
“The Ministry of Health has developed Standard Operating Procedures to guide prevention and control measures against Ebola Virus Disease in education institutions during the current outbreak,” the statement read.
The new measures come days after the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed an Ebola outbreak following the death of a Congolese national who had been receiving treatment at Kibuli Hospital in Kampala. Health authorities said all individuals who came into contact with the patient have since been isolated and are under close monitoring.
Under the new SOPs, schools are required to establish strict hygiene and screening measures at their premises. All institutions must provide handwashing facilities with clean running water and soap at entrances, classrooms, dormitories, dining halls, toilets, and staff rooms.
Mandatory hand washing for all learners, staff, and visitors has also been introduced, alongside temperature screening at school entry points. Persons showing symptoms associated with Ebola will not be allowed onto school premises.
The Ministry of Health identified common Ebola transmission routes as direct contact with blood or body fluids of infected persons, contaminated surfaces, and infected animals. Authorities warned that blood remains the most infectious bodily fluid.
School administrators have further been directed to regularly disinfect classrooms, dormitories, toilets, school vehicles, and frequently touched surfaces. The guidelines also discourage handshakes, hugging, and sharing of personal items among students and staff.
To strengthen preparedness, every school must designate an isolation area for suspected Ebola cases and maintain emergency contacts for nearby health facilities and district surveillance teams.
School heads are also expected to ensure adequate supplies of soap, water, sanitizers, thermometers, and disinfectants.
Teachers and non-teaching staff have been tasked with monitoring learners for signs of illness and immediately reporting suspected cases to school authorities and health officials. They are also advised to avoid direct contact with bodily fluids and reinforce hand hygiene practices among learners.
Students have equally been urged to take personal responsibility by regularly washing their hands, avoiding unnecessary physical contact, and promptly reporting any illness to teachers or school nurses.
Parents and guardians have been cautioned against sending sick children to school. They are also expected to inform schools if any household member has had contact with a suspected or confirmed Ebola case.
The SOPs provide a detailed response plan for handling suspected Ebola cases in schools. In the event that a learner or staff member develops symptoms, the individual must immediately be isolated and health authorities notified. Staffs attending to the suspected patient are advised to use personal protective equipment such as gloves and avoid direct contact with bodily fluids.
Schools have additionally been instructed to minimize non-essential gatherings, assemblies, and large events. Boarding schools are required to conduct routine health monitoring, reduce overcrowding in dormitories where possible, and closely monitor students returning from holidays or affected areas.
Transport operators serving schools must regularly disinfect vehicles and avoid transporting visibly ill students or staff.
Health officials say the success of the measures will depend largely on cooperation between schools, parents, learners, and health authorities as Uganda works to contain the outbreak and prevent further transmission within communities. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
