Healthcare workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have begun striking over unpaid wages and bonuses, jeopardizing efforts to control an Ebola outbreak that is spreading rapidly. The outbreak, centered in the Ituri province, has seen nearly 600 deaths among over 1,700 recorded cases.
Front-line workers, including those involved in epidemiological surveillance, community outreach, safety teams, and burial services, reported not receiving their salaries and bonuses since the outbreak was declared on May 15. They also claim to be working with insufficient protective gear and facing unfair treatment from authorities and response teams.
"Since the Ebola virus disease outbreak was declared, we've been demanding payment for our work," stated Dr. Biensi Kano, a member of the epidemiological surveillance committee in Bunia, the capital of Ituri province. He added that the non-payment of benefits "exposes us and our families to significant socio-economic difficulties and seriously undermines our living conditions."
Some workers issued an ultimatum, threatening to strike if payments were not made within 24 hours. By Tuesday, some had already ceased working, although an official strike had not yet been declared. The situation has raised concerns among residents in Ituri, where containment measures have already led to economic hardship.
An official notice to national and provincial authorities detailed the grievances. In response, officials in Ituri acknowledged the concerns and stated they are being addressed. Akilimali Pierre, incident manager at Congo’s National Institute of Public Health, suggested that the closure of Bunia airport has hampered the flow of funds, contributing to payment delays.
Protests have also occurred, with some workers setting tires ablaze outside the Rwampara Ebola treatment center on Monday, causing a brief panic before police intervened.
The striking workers also highlighted other challenges, including attacks from skeptical residents and the inherent risks of their work. Dr. Ben Bakule, a community investigator, described narrowly escaping an attack in late May while tracing contacts of a confirmed case. "We spend money on transport to get to work. We thought we’d be rewarded. At the moment, nothing is going right because we’re not being paid. We don’t deserve this sort of treatment," Bakule said, expressing frustration that their efforts to save lives are met with non-payment, potentially leading them to abandon their posts.
Minister of Health Roger Kamba had previously assured response teams that their working conditions were a priority and that funding was available. However, front-line workers like epidemiologist Dr. Ghislain Maneba report a starkly different reality, working "day and night without being paid."
The World Health Organization representative in Congo, Dr. Anne Ancia, noted that the virus continues to spread, exacerbated by population movements and insecurity. Some treatment centers are reportedly operating at near-full capacity. The current Ebola outbreak marks the worst on record for its first month. The strike coincides with the start of clinical trials for a treatment targeting the Bundibugyo virus responsible for this outbreak.