Frontline Ebola workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo are protesting outside treatment centres, saying they haven't been paid since the outbreak began in May. The outbreak has already infected 1,759 people and killed 600, with no vaccine or cure available for this strain. Health officials are scrambling to resolve payment disputes before a full strike disrupts the response.
Ebola response workers in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo took to the streets on Thursday, staging protests outside three treatment centres in Bunia — the epicentre of the country's latest outbreak. The workers say they haven't received pay for services rendered since the outbreak was declared on May 15, and that compensation rates don't reflect the risks and workload of fighting one of the world's deadliest diseases.
Congo's Health Minister acknowledged problems with the "human resources pillar" of the response, citing outdated and inaccurate payment lists. Talks are reportedly underway to prevent a full-blown strike, which could severely hamper containment efforts. The Africa CDC, which has provided roughly $2 million to support Congo's response, said some of those funds could be redirected to cover delayed payments — stressing the importance of keeping frontline worker morale intact.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: When frontline health workers go unpaid, outbreak responses can unravel from within. A strike in the middle of an active, deadly Ebola outbreak with no vaccine or cure could accelerate transmission and push an already serious situation into a deeper crisis.
