Unpaid health worker opens up on battle to slow fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever

Unpaid health worker opens up on battle to slow fastest-growing Ebola outbreak ever Wiza Bondele has been working without pay since the outbreak was declared in mid-May - Bookmark Wiza Bondele faces a daily battle against the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record, working tirelessly at a hospital in Congo’s eastern Ituri province, the epicentre of the ongoing crisis. His vital role involves disinfecting contaminated areas, checking visitors’ temperatures, and enforcing strict handwashing protocols – tasks that place him in constant peril of contracting the deadly virus. Yet, like hundreds of his fellow front-line health workers, including crucial burial teams and drivers, Bondele reveals he has been operating without pay since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. This critical health emergency is unfolding in one of Congo’s most remote and conflict-ridden regions, exacerbating the challenges faced by those on the ground. The welfare of front-line personnel has emerged as a significant concern throughout the outbreak. Persistent payment issues, coupled with violent attacks on health teams and facilities, have compelled some workers to abandon their posts. This disruption has severely hampered critical care efforts in an outbreak that authorities concede is spreading at an alarming rate, outpacing attempts to track its progression. Ebola, which spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals or contaminated materials, presents a clear and present danger that Bondele is acutely aware of. "Sometimes patients are bleeding or vomiting blood. We clean and disinfect those places," the 29-year-old infection control worker told The Associated Press during his shift. "With risks like that, we deserve salaries." The confirmed cases in this outbreak have now surpassed 4,000, resulting in over 1,800 deaths, according to the latest government figures. This makes it the second-largest Ebola outbreak ever recorded, trailing only the devastating 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak, which saw more than 28,000 cases and over 11,000 fatalities. Another outbreak from 2018-2020 claimed at least 2,200 lives. This particular outbreak is linked to the Bundibugyo virus, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments, further complicating the response. Despite the severe financial strain, workers like Bondele continue their essential duties. A veteran of Congo’s 2018 Ebola response, he returned to the front lines when the virus re-emerged, driven by a belief that his experience could safeguard his community in Ituri, which accounts for nearly 90 per cent of the Ebola cases. Instead, he found himself among a multitude of workers who have consistently reported for duty without receiving the promised monthly salary of $510. Officials have repeatedly assured them that outstanding payments would be processed, Bondele explained. Workers have registered their details for mobile money transactions, signed attendance sheets, and patiently awaited payment notifications, yet only a fraction have actually been paid. Bondele noted that even colleagues who did receive some payment have informed him that the full amount was never disbursed. Congolese authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. In the past, officials have attributed payment delays to logistical challenges. Without his salary, Bondele faces a daily struggle to cover basic necessities: rent, food, phone credit, transport costs, and water bills. He also supports his wife, child, and other relatives, responsibilities that he says have become increasingly difficult to fulfil. The harsh reality of his situation became painfully evident one morning. Setting off for work on his motorcycle, Bondele ran out of fuel en route. With no money to refill the tank, he was forced to leave his bike with neighbours and walk the remaining 13 kilometres (8 miles) to the hospital. By the time he arrived, his shoes had disintegrated. Despite the unpaid wages and profound hardship, Bondele and hundreds of other dedicated workers continue to report to the hospital seven days a week. He maintains that his work is simply too important to abandon. "I hope their conscience tells them that I deserve to be paid," Bondele stated, referring to the responsible officials. The widespread strikes and protests over unpaid wages, in which Bondele participated, have caused significant disruptions in recent weeks. These actions, which sometimes involved abandoning health facilities, temporarily hindered parts of the response as the outbreak continued its relentless spread. "We realised they (the authorities) weren’t doing anything, and that’s when we went on strike," he recounted. The workers warned that unpaid wages were severely undermining morale and negatively impacting patient care. Staff at one treatment centre issued a statement declaring they would remain on strike until "concrete solutions" were found to resolve months of outstanding wages and bonuses. Dr Adelard Lufungula, operations manager for the government's Ebola response, stated last month that the payment problem was being addressed. He noted that workers were now being paid via mobile money instead of cash, and the backlog was expected to be cleared imminently. For Bondele, however, these explanations have done little to alleviate the pervasive uncertainty. "I wonder whether it is injustice or whether there simply isn’t enough money," he mused. These labour disputes unfold against a backdrop of an Ebola response already grappling with armed conflict, widespread misinformation, and deep public mistrust. These factors collectively make it exceedingly difficult for health workers to contain the outbreak effectively. "It is very difficult to get people to understand," Bondele explained. "Sometimes while raising awareness I can be threatened or beaten, and I have to run away." He noted that some communities continue to resist fundamental prevention measures, such as regular handwashing. Restrictions on traditional burials, which prevent families from touching the highly contagious bodies of their loved ones, have fuelled resentment in certain communities. Rumours persist that the virus is a hoax, that health workers are profiting from the outbreak, or that hospitals are deliberately withholding life-saving treatments. This pervasive misinformation has repeatedly escalated into violence. Angry crowds have set fire to Ebola treatment centres, stormed hospitals to retrieve relatives’ bodies, and attacked teams conducting safe burials. Health officials warn that this mistrust has also complicated contact tracing and early treatment efforts, particularly in remote communities affected by rebel violence. As visitors queue for temperature checks and disinfectant is sprayed to keep the virus at bay, Bondele steadfastly continues the work he says he initially joined out of passion. "Working this job takes a lot of courage," he concluded. "But today, I am discouraged."