Staff members at the Rwampara General Hospital in Ituri province, northeastern Congo, initiated a strike on Monday due to unpaid salaries and bonuses. The protest involves a range of personnel, including epidemiologists, case investigators, drivers, and gravediggers, who have expressed frustration over not receiving compensation from the Congolese government.
The striking workers have effectively closed the hospital by blocking access routes, demanding immediate payment for their services. Some health workers began their strike last week, citing that they have not been compensated since the Ebola outbreak was officially declared on May 15.
Bahati Claude, a health worker in the Rwampara health zone, voiced concerns about the lack of payment, stating, "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." The outbreak has been attributed to the Bundibugyo virus, which currently lacks an approved vaccine or treatment.
During a recent visit to Ituri, Congolese Health Minister Roger Kamba acknowledged the issue, revealing that the government is in the process of verifying the payroll. He noted that some unrelated names had been added, complicating the payment process. Kamba assured that efforts would be made to ensure that funds reach the rightful recipients.
As of now, there have been 1,926 confirmed Ebola cases in the country, with 702 fatalities reported. The World Health Organization has classified this outbreak as the fastest-growing Ebola crisis recorded on the continent.
In related news, the World Health Organization's Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, announced that a second U.S. citizen, a humanitarian worker, has been transferred to Germany after contracting the virus in eastern Congo. This follows the case of the first American, a doctor, who tested positive earlier in the outbreak.
Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).
0 Comments
Log in to join the conversation.