Ebola treatment centre staff strike in DR Congo amid rising deaths

Healthcare workers at the Ebola treatment centre in Bunia, in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province, have launched a strike, halting patient care at the facility. The walkout, announced by the centre’s staff union on Monday, comes amid growing concerns over inadequate protective equipment, delayed salaries and the lack of clear protocols for managing the recent surge in suspected Ebola cases in the region.

Authorities from the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization have urged an immediate resolution, warning that the suspension of services could jeopardise containment efforts and increase the risk of wider transmission. Negotiations are underway to address the workers’ grievances, with officials emphasizing the need to restore full operational capacity at the centre to safeguard both patients and the broader community.