[Congo] Workers at Ebola treatment centre in northeast strike over unpaid salaries

On July 13, dozens of workers at an Ebola virus treatment centre in northeast Congo began strike action over unpaid salaries and bonuses, ABC News reports.

Since May, Congo has been battling a new wave of the virus. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention called it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded on the continent.

Striking staff at Rwampara General Hospital in Ituri province include epidemiologists, case investigators, drivers and gravediggers. All reportedly say that Congolese authorities have failed to pay them. 

The hospital was shuttered by protesting staff, who blocked the road leading to the medical facility.

Strikes by health workers and those working on the ground began last week, with affected staff accusing authorities of failing to pay their wages since the outbreak began.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Bahati Claude - a health worker at the centre, which is the largest in the Rwampara health zone - said, “We don’t know how it is possible to not have been paid for two months. We don’t want to give up the job.”

According to the World Health Organization, Congolese authorities declared a new Ebola outbreak on May 15, after the disease had been transmitting for weeks without official detection. 

The latest outbreak was reportedly caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment.

Source: ABC News

(Quote via original reporting)

On July 13, dozens of workers at an Ebola virus treatment centre in northeast Congo began strike action over unpaid salaries and bonuses, ABC News reports.

Since May, Congo has been battling a new wave of the virus. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention called it the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever recorded on the continent.

Striking staff at Rwampara General Hospital in Ituri province include epidemiologists, case investigators, drivers and gravediggers. All reportedly say that Congolese authorities have failed to pay them. 

The hospital was shuttered by protesting staff, who blocked the road leading to the medical facility.

Strikes by health workers and those working on the ground began last week, with affected staff accusing authorities of failing to pay their wages since the outbreak began.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Bahati Claude - a health worker at the centre, which is the largest in the Rwampara health zone - said, “We don’t know how it is possible to not have been paid for two months. We don’t want to give up the job.”

According to the World Health Organization, Congolese authorities declared a new Ebola outbreak on May 15, after the disease had been transmitting for weeks without official detection. 

The latest outbreak was reportedly caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which currently has no approved vaccine or treatment.

Source: ABC News

(Quote via original reporting)