Congo Ebola cases near 3 000 as health staff strike
The Congo Ebola outbreak has entered a critical phase after health workers at a treatment centre in the country's hardest-hit region went on strike over unpaid bonuses, reports Cape {town} Etc.
The Congo Ebola outbreak has entered a critical phase after health workers at a treatment centre in the country’s hardest-hit region went on strike over unpaid bonuses,Cape {town} Etcreports. According toAP NewsandReuters, strikes have disrupted care as confirmed cases climbed to 2 973, including 1 309 deaths. The latest figures were released by the Congolese government on Friday, making it the country’s fastest-growingEbola outbreakon record. Doctors, nurses and security staff at the Elikya Ebola Treatment Centre in Bunia, Ituri province, stopped work on Saturday after voting to strike until their concerns were addressed. In a statement, employees said they would remain on strike until ‘concrete solutions’ were found to resolve ‘two months of unpaid performance bonuses’. Around 100 workers gathered outside the facility, saying the payment delays had damaged morale and interrupted patient care. The strike follows similar industrial action at Bunia General Hospital, where some healthcare workers told the Associated Press they had not received any salary since joining the Ebola response. The World Health Organization says more than 100 healthcare workers have contracted Ebola during the outbreak. The virus, caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain, has no approved vaccine or treatment. Ituri province accounts for nearly 90% of confirmed infections, while conflict, population displacement and community mistrust continue to slow contact tracing and containment efforts. The WHO says the global risk remains low because Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids rather than through the air. Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into!Click here to join!Also read:Ebola cases in Congo hit first-month record, WHO saysPicture:CDC / Pexels