Health workers at the Elikya Ebola treatment center in Bunia, located in the Ituri province of eastern Congo, went on strike on Saturday, demanding two months of unpaid performance bonuses. According to government data released on Friday, the strike comes as Congo battles an outbreak of the Bundibugyo virus that has reached 2,973 confirmed cases and 1,309 deaths since May 15.
Strike Paralyzes Treatment Center Operations in Bunia
The work stoppage by doctors, nurses, and security personnel has left approximately 100 healthcare workers demonstrating outside the Elikya facility. Strikers stated that missing pay has severely impacted morale and disrupted direct patient care as the virus spreads rapidly through the region. Strikers report that five patients inside the facility have died while the center remained paralyzed. According to a statement released Friday, workers voted unanimously to maintain the strike until officials deliver concrete solutions for their unpaid wages.
Government Response and Mobile Payment Adjustments
Dr. Adelard Lufungula, responsable des opérations de lutte contre Ebola, stated on Saturday that the payment issues are currently being resolved. According to Dr. Lufungula, the government is shifting payroll distributions from cash to mobile money transfers, and outstanding arrears should be cleared within the coming days. This industrial action follows a recent visit by Congolese Prime Minister Judith Suminwa to Ituri treatment sites, including Rwampara and Mongbwalu, where she faced direct protests from healthcare staff regarding compensation delays.
Broader Healthcare Strain Across Ituri Province
The demonstration in Bunia follows a similar strike last week at the city’s general hospital, where staff reported receiving no compensation since the outbreak began. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that more than 100 healthcare workers have contracted the virus over the course of the epidemic. Currently, 766 patients remain isolated or hospitalized, while 540 individuals have recovered. Ituri province accounts for roughly 90 percent of all confirmed cases in the country.
Challenges in Containment and Treatment Trials
Health authorities face major obstacles in tracking transmissions due to unidentified primary cases and population movements driven by armed conflict and illegal mining. The response has also been hampered by funding shortages, attacks on medical facilities, regional violence, and community mistrust. Unlike the Zaire strain common in past outbreaks, the Bundibugyo virus lacks an approved vaccine or specific treatment, though clinical trials for two potential therapeutics recently began recruiting patients in Ituri. The WHO notes that the global risk of international spread remains low because the virus transmits through direct contact with bodily fluids rather than airborne pathways.