Ebola response workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo are demanding action. Dozens of healthcare workers protested outside three treatment centres in Bunia, saying they haven't been paid since the outbreak began in May. The ongoing outbreak has already infected nearly 1,800 people and killed 600, with no vaccine or cure available for this strain.
Ebola response workers in northeastern DRC took to the streets on Thursday, gathering outside three treatment centres in Bunia — the epicentre of the current outbreak — to demand wages they say have gone unpaid since the outbreak was declared on May 15. In a letter to local officials, workers cited "significant socio-economic difficulties" and called for higher daily allowances and the removal of income tax deductions from their pay.
DRC's Health Minister acknowledged the payment issues, pointing to problems with keeping accurate and updated lists of workers eligible for compensation. Officials confirmed that strike talks are ongoing, though no work stoppage has begun yet.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: When frontline workers go unpaid during a deadly outbreak, the entire response is at risk. A potential strike could disrupt treatment centre operations at a critical moment, threatening containment of a virus that kills up to half of those it infects.
