Health workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo describe unpaid wages and rising risks as the Ebola outbreak expands.
Frontline health workers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo report missing wages and heightened dangers as the Ebola outbreak spreads rapidly. Nurses and hygiene workers at treatment centers in the north-eastern province of Ituri say they have not been paid for months, despite working under hazardous conditions. Sophie Mwadawa Kabundo, a nurse at an Ebola treatment center, described the fear of contracting the virus and passing it to loved ones. She noted that more confirmed cases are being admitted daily, and some colleagues have died. Martin Bolombi, a hygiene worker, also expressed concerns about the stress of the outbreak and the lack of payment, which has led to protests over unpaid bonuses.
More than 2,500 people have died in the outbreak, which is spreading exponentially across an area larger than France. The United Nations has warned that existing aid funds may be exhausted within weeks, and the World Health Organization estimates the outbreak could surpass the 2014-16 West Africa epidemic in scale. The outbreak is growing faster than the response, with 160 healthcare workers infected and 43 of them dying. The area has faced decades of conflict, compounding the humanitarian crisis. The infections are caused by the rare Bundibugyo species of the virus, for which no approved treatments or vaccines are currently available.
Why it matters
Unpaid wages threaten the morale and sustainability of the Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
The government’s response to the unpaid wages and the availability of additional funding for the outbreak.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.