Dozens of health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo are protesting unpaid wages and bonuses, striking at the epicenter of the country's Ebola outbreak. The demonstrations, which have seen health workers abandon several facilities, come as aid organizations warn that the epidemic is spreading at an alarming rate. Bunia, the capital of Ituri province, which is reporting nearly 90% of the nation's Ebola cases, has been the site of these protests. Workers, including those providing critical care to Ebola patients, say they have not received any compensation since the outbreak was declared in mid-May.
Protesters express concern that the ongoing payment issues will hinder efforts to control the virus. "With this way of managing things, Ebola will not end in this province. We ask the authorities to get involved at all levels so that a solution is found quickly," said Edouige Makosi, one of the demonstrators. Officials have previously attributed payment delays to logistical challenges. Congolese authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The welfare of frontline responders has been a significant concern throughout this outbreak, the second-largest in history, occurring in one of Congo's most remote and vulnerable regions. Beyond pay disputes, many health workers and facilities have faced attacks from rebels and angry mobs.
During a visit to Congo on Wednesday, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged Congolese authorities to prioritize support for those on the front lines of the Ebola response. The medical charity Doctors Without Borders stated this week that the outbreak continues to spread at an "alarming and unprecedented rate," and that the expanded response is "still not reaching communities quickly enough to break transmission chains."