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Health workers in Congo go on strike over pay issues as deaths near 600
ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos • • health
Key Points:
- Healthcare workers at the center of Congo’s Ebola outbreak in Ituri province are striking due to unpaid wages and bonuses since the outbreak began on May 15, hindering efforts to control the rapidly spreading virus.
- The Ebola outbreak has recorded 1,708 cases and 580 deaths, with treatment centers nearing full capacity, while insecurity and population movements continue to fuel the spread.
- Front-line workers, including health professionals, safety teams, and burial workers, report working with limited protective gear and facing attacks from communities skeptical about the virus.
- Government officials acknowledge delays in payments partly due to logistical challenges like the closure of Bunia airport, but workers say promises of support have not been fulfilled.
- The strike has raised concerns among local residents about the potential collapse of response efforts, which are already causing economic hardship in the affected areas.
