Health workers battling the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the payment of overdue salaries and bonuses, threatening a full-scale strike if their demands are not met. The protest, which has already seen staff block access to treatment facilities and burn tires, comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the true scale of the epidemic may be significantly larger than current official data suggests.
Escalating Protests at the Epicenter
The strike threat centers on the Rwampara Ebola treatment center in Ituri province, one of the areas most severely affected by the virus. Since the outbreak was officially declared on May 15, doctors, epidemiologists, case investigators, drivers, and burial teams report they have been working without pay. “We’ve been treating Ebola patients without pay since May 15,” said Dr. Pascal Bahoya, a physician at the Rwampara facility. “We continue to do so because that is our oath, but we are working in very difficult conditions.” Frontline workers have expressed deep frustration, noting that while they risk their lives to manage the disease, they have received no financial compensation for their service. Olivier Duciel, a member of a community awareness team, stated that staff have gone 45 days without wages. Burial team member John Bahati Nguna added that the lack of support contrasts sharply with the conditions of officials arriving from Kinshasa, whom staff allege are staying in hotels while those on the ground struggle.
Official Response and Payroll Issues
Health Minister Samuel Roger Kamba acknowledged the “payment delays” during a visit to Ituri last week. He attributed the failure to pay staff to an “organisational issue,” explaining that the government is currently auditing the payroll to remove unrelated names that were erroneously added. “We must ensure that these payments reach the right people,” Kamba said. “We have faced a few challenges, notably changes to the lists, which have led to complaints from people saying they are not being paid even though they are working.”
WHO Warns of Underreported Epidemic
The labor unrest compounds a worsening public health crisis. While official figures confirm nearly 2,000 cases and over 700 deaths, the WHO suggests the actual impact of the outbreak could be two to four times higher than reported. Chikwe Ihekweazu, the WHO’s emergencies director, noted that many deaths likely occur within family environments rather than in medical facilities, making accurate tracking difficult. The virus has also reached neighboring Uganda, which has reported 20 cases and two deaths.
Challenges in Containment
The current outbreak is particularly challenging because there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the Bundibugyo strain. As of July 12, there were 727 patients receiving care in treatment centers. The national public health institute (INSP) reports that the medical workforce itself has been heavily impacted, with at least 112 healthcare workers infected and 35 deaths recorded. Humanitarian experts warn that if containment is delayed, the economic and social costs—including reduced productivity and disruptions to trade—will continue to rise, potentially reversing development gains in the region.
Outbreak Summary
| Metric | Status/Data |
|---|---|
| Declared Start Date | May 15 |
| Virus Strain | Bundibugyo (No vaccine/treatment) |
| Confirmed Health Worker Deaths | 35 |
| Affected Provinces (DRC) | 5 (Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Tshopo, Haut-Uele) |
| International Funding Pledged | $1.5 billion |
As the 48-hour ultimatum expires, the potential for a total work stoppage poses a severe risk to the containment efforts. The striking health workers maintain that while their commitment to their professional oath remains, the lack of pay has become unsustainable, leaving the future of the emergency response in a precarious state.
Find more reporting in our Health section.
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