‘There’s no salary’: DRC health workers tell of hardship as Ebola spreads

Health workers on the front lines of the Ebola outbreak in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are grappling with dire conditions, including unpaid salaries and perilous work environments. The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly warned that the current outbreak could become one of the world's most severe.

The haemorrhagic viral disease has a history of devastating outbreaks. The worst on record, between 2014 and 2016 in West Africa, claimed over 11,000 lives. A subsequent outbreak in eastern DRC from 2018 to 2020 resulted in 2,287 deaths. This current outbreak is particularly concerning due to the rare Bundibugyo strain, which lacks approved treatments or a vaccine. Compounding the issue, the disease transmitted undetected for weeks before an official declaration on May 15, a delay attributed by analysts to severely weakened disease surveillance following global health aid cuts.

The virus is spreading through eastern DRC, a region plagued by protracted conflict and deep-seated distrust of authorities. This volatile environment makes tracking suspected or confirmed cases extremely challenging. Ituri province, near the Ugandan border, has become the epicentre. As of July 21, the WHO reported over 2,500 cases and 1,000 deaths. Uganda has recorded 20 cases and two deaths, with its last confirmed patient recovering by July 16. This rate of spread is significantly faster than the 2018 outbreak, which took over 10 months to reach 2,000 cases.

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The warning from the World Health Organization (WHO) is dire: The current outbreak of the Ebola virus currently spreading in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) might be one of the world’s worst, the agency has said over and over.

Health workers are not only facing the risk of infection but also a critical shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). They are also targets of deadly attacks from suspicious communities who deny the virus's existence and refuse medical help. Many workers report not receiving their salaries. Last week, dozens at Rwampara General Hospital, which houses a major Ebola treatment center near Bunia, went on strike. In May, angry residents burned parts of the center and attacked fleeing health workers.

More than 100 health workers have been infected, and approximately 35 have died. Paluku Audrey, a 29-year-old community engagement officer, shared the difficulties of entering communities to educate distrustful residents about Ebola risks.

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My name is Paluku Audrey. I am 29 years old, and I work as a community engagement officer