Health workers involved in fighting the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo have warned that they may walk off the job, claiming they have not been paid for months.
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At the Elikya Ebola Treatment Center in Bunia, nurse Micheline Kayimpa cares daily for patients infected with one of the world’s deadliest viruses.
Kayimpa says that, in addition to the constant risk of infection, staff are also facing unpaid wages. “I have worked here since June, but I have not received a single penny in salary,” she said, adding that she may abandon her post if the problem is not resolved.
Data from Congo’s Ministry of Health show that the current Ebola outbreak has affected thousands of people and caused more than one thousand deaths. The World Health Organization has described it as one of the largest outbreaks reported in the country.
The situation at the Bunia center is particularly difficult, as it is operating beyond capacity and is understaffed. Workers say that, in many cases, only a few nurses must care for a large number of critically ill patients.
Medical teams have faced more than just the threat of the virus. They have also been targeted in attacks by local communities influenced by distrust and misinformation about the disease.
Congolese authorities have acknowledged that payments have been delayed, explaining that staff verification and administrative procedures have created obstacles. They say registered workers will receive their payments.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which operates several Ebola treatment centers, has clarified that the protests concern compensation provided by the government, not payments from the organization.
Humanitarian workers warn that a work stoppage at this stage could give the virus more opportunities to spread. They are calling for support, protective equipment and regular pay for frontline personnel.
