Charity, Action Aid, has sent Ebola resource packs to 24,000 teachers across the UK in order to help students gain a better understanding of the disease, and to dispel ‘the myths around Ebola’.
The resources come after reports of several ill-informed reactions to Ebola, including the cancellation a visit from a teacher from Ghana (which has not been hit by the Ebola), as well as another parent pulling their child from school because they were not allowed to wear a face mask ‘for protection’.
At another school, a teacher’s trip to Kenya was cancelled amid Ebola fears.
Playground bullying around the disease has also been reported
Chris Parker, Action Aid’s schools team manager, said: “With fears riding high about Ebola and a handful of cases reaching Europe and the United States, pupils may be worried and are starting to ask questions in school.
“Our teaching resources focus on facts rather than playground myths about the disease and explain why Ebola is having such a devastating effect on Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
“They also reassure children that the risk of Ebola in the UK is low and how well equipped our hospitals are to deal with any cases that we may see here.”
The resources include quizzes, photos, as well as maps, statistics and other information about the disease, which has killed over 4,500 people in West Africa.
Action Aid, a charity which aims to help eradicate world poverty, has been working in Sierra Leone and Liberia since June, in order to aid in stopping the spread of the Ebola virus.
