Congo Ebola workers strike over unpaid bonuses

Health workers battling the escalating Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo have gone on strike, protesting the non-payment of performance bonuses. This action is significantly disrupting the critical response to the outbreak.

According to the World Health Organization, more than 100 healthcare workers have contracted the virus since the epidemic was declared on May 15. As of Friday, the government reported a total of 2,973 confirmed cases and 1,309 deaths. The strike involves around 100 health workers who protested outside a treatment center in Bunia, the hardest-hit province of Ituri.

Protesters stated that the failure to pay bonuses for two months has "damaged morale" and is hindering patient care. They vowed to continue their work only after their demands are met. A similar strike occurred last week at the General Hospital in Bunia, with some doctors claiming they have not received any salary since the epidemic began.

The epidemic continues to spread faster than health officials can track, further complicated by armed conflicts that impede population movement and disease monitoring. While there is no specific cure for the virus, treatment focuses on isolating patients, providing hydration, managing symptoms, contact tracing, and safe burials. The WHO assesses the risk of the epidemic spreading outside Central Africa as low.

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They said that the non-payment of bonuses for two months has 'damaged morale' and is hindering the care of the sick, and that they will continue to work when the authorities settle their debts.