{"id":590,"date":"2026-06-07T07:36:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T07:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=590"},"modified":"2026-06-07T07:36:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T07:36:27","slug":"health-workers-at-the-epicenter-of-congos-ebola-outbreak-labor-with-little-pay-or-rest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/topmovingpross.com\/?p=590","title":{"rendered":"Health workers at the epicenter of Congo\u2019s Ebola outbreak labor with little pay or rest"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MONGBWALU, Congo (AP) \u2014 Dr. Richard Lokudu, the medical director of Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital, has received barely any compensation for his work on the front line of one of Congo\u2019s<\/span> deadliest Ebola virus outbreaks.<\/p>\n

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Lokudu and several of his colleagues work all day at the hospital treating an influx of patients. Notifications of suspected cases come even late at night.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have not received my allowance (and) what happened to others could happen to me as well,\u201d Lokudu told The Associated Press. \u201cDespite all the infection prevention and control measures we are implementing, we do not know what may happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Health authorities believe the outbreak, which took the eastern region of Congo by surprise after spreading silently for weeks without detection, started in the bustling mining area of Mongbwalu in Ituri province. <\/p>\n

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Mining conditions conducive to virus spread<\/h2>\n

Mongbwalu has emerged as the epicenter of the rare Bundibugyo type<\/span>. The town attracts large numbers of laborers who work in large gold mines with muddy pools of gold deposits, narrow pits and caves. They live in low-income areas including crowded camps and have little access to proper health protocols.<\/p>\n

The conditions increase the possibility of transmitting the disease, which spreads through close contact with bodily fluids of the sick and deceased such as sweat, blood, feces and vomit.<\/p>\n

There also has been widespread skepticism regarding the disease<\/span>, making the job of medical treatment more difficult for Lokudu and his colleagues, while some of the health workers and first responders have died from the disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is one thing to be far away and hear statistics being reported, but what is happening on the ground is enormous,\u201d Lokudu said. \u201cPeople are sacrificing their rest and comfort for this cause. There should be recognition that they deserve compensation. These workers should receive their salaries regularly.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Congolese government did not respond to a request for comment from the AP.<\/p>\n

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Minimal resources available<\/h2>\n

Congolese authorities have confirmed 452 cases including 82 deaths. On Thursday, the Central African nation recorded 71 new cases in a day, which authorities said is a sign of \u201cactive community transmission.\u201d<\/p>\n

The rare Bundibugyo type has no approved vaccines or treatment, so health workers have been targeting symptoms. The government said at least five people have recovered from Ebola since the outbreak was officially confirmed by Congo\u2019s Ministry of Health on May 15.<\/p>\n

The disease \u201chad a big head start,\u201d according to World Health Organization<\/span> Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Hospitals in the region could not test for the right type of Ebola that had begun spreading several weeks before confirmation.<\/p>\n

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Health workers are handling the disease with minimal resources as agencies have been scrambling to bring aid<\/span> into the region. Masks, gloves, boots and medications were initially all in short supply.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere has been an erosion of the health system,\u201d said Heather Kerr, country director for the International Rescue Committee in Congo. \u201cThere has not been investment in the health system, and this has been going on for years.\u201d<\/p>\n

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