Lack of protective equipment against Ebola in schools and communities is a ‘ticking time bomb,’ says ActionAid

PRESS STATEMENT: IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 21/05/2026

ActionAid has conducted a rapid needs assessment in Ituri province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease in the country. Below are the key findings: 

• 83% of schools have no Ebola-specific handwashing or hygiene stations. 
• 81% of the schools have no response or isolation protocols in place. 
• In 78% of the schools, there is no Personal Protective Equipment available for teachers or learners. 
• 74% of teachers have not received any Ebola awareness training. 
• 67% of schools have not received a single visit from health authorities regarding the outbreak. 
• Disturbingly, 29% of schools have already registered at least one suspected Ebola case or close contact. 

ActionAid is calling for urgent, localised humanitarian intervention amid an alarming lack of Ebola virus disease preparedness in schools and communities. The assessment has also shown heightened vulnerabilities for women and girls in areas already grappling with armed conflict-induced displacement. 

ActionAid DRC Country Director, Dr. Saani Yakubu (PhD), said: “What we have seen in the 12 communities of Nyankunde, Nizi and Bunia Health is a desperate situation characterised by low levels of awareness of the disease, missing protective infrastructure, and severe service disruption in health centres and schools.” 

ActionAid’s assessment paints a stark picture of the risks facing the communities, especially women, school children and teachers.  

Panza*, a member of the Parents’ Committee in schools from Nyankunde, highlighted the growing fear among school staff and parents. 

“Our teachers are afraid. They are coming to school without any protection. If a child comes in sick, we do not know what to do. We are asking for help on what to do, as well as the tools to protect our children.” 

The assessment has also revealed women's heightened vulnerability to contracting the disease. 82% of women interviewed by ActionAid reported providing primary caregiving to sick family members, exposing them disproportionately to infection risk. This is worsened because they do not have protective equipment or training on handling patients.   

ActionAid, which has been operating in Ituri since 2022, delivering education in emergencies programming, Gender-Based Violence protection, and food security programmes, is urging the international community and local authorities to commit resources immediately to support community-led responses. 

Saani said, "We are dealing with a ticking time bomb in schools and communities. It is unacceptable that nearly a third of the schools we surveyed have already seen suspected cases, yet teachers have no personal protective equipment, no training, and no isolation protocols. How can we contain an epidemic when the teachers and mothers at home are ill-equipped and barely informed on handling the disease?” 

ActionAid is currently working with networks of women and youth groups to address gaps and needs identified by the assessment. A coordinated scale-up of information provision, protection services, and medical supplies is urgently required to avert a full-scale humanitarian disaster. 

There is an urgent need for funding to set up hygiene infrastructure, deliver targeted Ebola awareness that dispels dangerous stigma being peddled, and provide direct protection support for women and girls who are carrying the heaviest burden of this crisis,” added Saani. 

ENDS

Saani is in Kinshasa and available for media engagements. Contact media-enquiries@actionaid.org  to arrange.   

About ActionAid          

ActionAid is a global federation working for a world free from poverty and injustice. We want to see a just, fair and sustainable world, in which everybody enjoys the right to a life of dignity, and freedom from poverty and oppression. We work to achieve social justice and gender equality, and to eradicate poverty.