Health workers at the epicenter of Congo's Ebola outbreak labor with
little pay or rest
[June 08, 2026]
By JUSTIN KABUMBA and OPE ADETAYO
MONGBWALU, Congo (AP) — 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's deadliest
Ebola virus outbreaks.
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.
“I have not received my allowance (and) what happened to others could
happen to me as well,” Lokudu told The Associated Press. “Despite all
the infection prevention and control measures we are implementing, we do
not know what may happen.”
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.
Mining conditions conducive to virus spread
Mongbwalu has emerged as the epicenter of the rare Bundibugyo type. 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.
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.
There also has been widespread skepticism regarding the disease, 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.
“It is one thing to be far away and hear statistics being reported, but
what is happening on the ground is enormous,” Lokudu said. “People are
sacrificing their rest and comfort for this cause. There should be
recognition that they deserve compensation. These workers should receive
their salaries regularly.”
The Congolese government didn't respond to a request for comment from
the AP.
Minimal resources available
Congolese authorities released new statistics on Sunday, saying there
have been 488 confirmed cases, including 86 deaths, as of Friday. On
Thursday, the Central African nation recorded 71 new cases in a day,
which authorities said is a sign of “active community transmission.”
In neighboring Uganda, there have been 19 confirmed cases and two
deaths.
Bundibugyo has no approved vaccines or treatment, so Congolese health
workers have been targeting symptoms of the species. The government said
at least five people have recovered from Ebola since the outbreak was
officially confirmed by Congo's health ministry on May 15.
The disease “had a big head start,” according to World Health
Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Hospitals in
the region couldn't test for the right type of Ebola that had begun
spreading several weeks before confirmation.
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Richard Lokudu, center, the medical director of Mongbwalu General
Hospital, speaks with UN peacekeepers in Mongbwalu, Congo, Friday,
June 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Moses Sawasawa)
 Health workers are handling the
disease with minimal resources, because agencies have been
scrambling to bring aid into the region. Masks, gloves, boots and
medications were initially all in short supply.
“There has been an erosion of the health system,” said Heather Kerr,
country director for the International Rescue Committee in Congo.
“There has not been investment in the health system, and this has
been going on for years.”
Tough conditions for health workers
“During the first week, we did not even have time to go home and
eat. The second week was the same. We only eat once a day, what
amounts to breakfast in the evening,” said Alice Bamuhinga, a nurse
at the Mongbwalu hospital.
Even with widespread skepticism and disregard for health protocols,
many in the town are becoming aware of the outbreak's grave reality.
Asero Jeanne, 52, had five children. Two died from the disease
within two weeks. When her daughter became ill, the family thought
it was malaria and neighbors advised them to avoid the hospital,
saying “anyone who went there would die immediately,” Jeanne said.
The daughter died after three weeks of moving between hospitals and
home, followed by a son who died days after. Then Jeanne became
sick.
“I saw about 20 people die,” Jeanne said. “I watched them being
taken to the morgue, yet God is allowing me to leave here alive. I
thank the doctors.”
UN health agency offers a plan
Tedros on Friday launched a $518 million plan to combat the
outbreak, saying “containing Ebola depends on political commitment,
sustained financing, and the trust and engagement of communities.”
Efforts to contain the disease also have been hindered by the
conflict between the government and Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group,
in addition to attacks by Islamist militants.
For health workers on the front line of Congo's Ebola outbreak, the
work has become harder as the disease spreads faster than their
current treatment capacity.
“Despite the alerts we receive and the teams we have on site, we
lack the means to travel into the field,” Lokudu said. “As a result,
there are alerts we are unable to investigate.”
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Ope Adetayo reported from Lagos, Nigeria.
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