Health workers battling the worsening Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have threatened to intensify strike action over months of unpaid salaries and risk allowances, raising fears that the response to one of the country’s fastest-growing Ebola outbreaks could be severely disrupted.
The workers, including doctors, nurses, epidemiologists, ambulance drivers and burial teams stationed in the hardest-hit Ituri Province, say they have not received the wages and hazard payments promised since the outbreak was declared in May.
Protesters temporarily shut down sections of the Rwampara Ebola Treatment Center, burned tyres and blocked access roads, warning that they cannot continue risking their lives without compensation. Health authorities say payment delays have been complicated by irregularities in payroll records and are working to resolve the issue.
The labor dispute comes at a critical time. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns the outbreak may be two to four times larger than official figures suggest, with more than 2,000 confirmed infections and over 750 deaths reported. Officials also say about 80% of new infections are emerging from unknown transmission chains, making containment increasingly difficult.
Health experts caution that any prolonged disruption to frontline operations could further weaken contact tracing, treatment and surveillance efforts, increasing the risk of wider transmission in eastern Congo and neighboring countries.
