What changed
2026-07-26 07:51 UTC → 2026-08-07 19:25 UTC ·
added
removed
Since late June 2026 Senegal’s Federation of Health Syndicates (F2S) called announced a three‑day 72‑hour general strike (24‑26 June) over staffing, housing for 24‑26 June and retirement issues, warning of a suspension of vaccination activities. The strike was followed on 9 July by the Autonomous Union of Doctors, Pharmacists and Dentists (SAMES), which joined a nationwide general strike organised by the Front Syndical for the Defence of Labour (FSDT) scheduled for 10 activities through early July, with emergency care maintained. citing unmet recruitment targets and housing allowances. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the doctors’ union SYMECO began a nationwide hospital public‑hospital strike on 3 July, limiting services to emergencies and blood banks; banks, while the rival union SYNAMED launched a second “Hospitals without doctors” strike was launched by SYNAMED on from 7‑16 July. On 25 July around 100 health workers walked out of the Elikya Ebola Treatment Centre in Bunia, Ituri province, protesting two‑month unpaid performance bonuses. The walkout halted care for the 766 patients still in isolation (540 already recovered) and raised fears of delayed treatment. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa visited Ituri the day before and pledged that the outstanding bonuses would be paid via mobile‑money transfers. WHO continues to report more than 100 health‑worker infections in the outbreak, which has reached 2,973 confirmed Ebola cases and 1,309 deaths. The disease is caused by July, sparing only the Bundibugyo virus, for which no vaccine or specific treatment exists, and response efforts are hampered by armed conflict and displacement. On 11 July eastern provinces. Senegal’s Minister of Public Service, Labour and Public Service Reform Mamadou Lamine Dianté rebuked and union leader Mody Guiro over publicly disputed the legality of the 10 July strike, while noting most public services continued and urging dialogue. The the Alliance And Gueusseum announced called a 48‑hour total health‑sector strike for on 23‑24 July, cancelling all emergency care and threatening tuberculosis control. tuberculosis‑control activities. The dispute spread to the Republic of the Congo, where health‑worker unions intensified actions on 23 July, demanding wage and working‑condition improvements; the Free Doctors’ Union (SYLIMED) later announced a two‑week truce after partial salary regularisation. Senegal’s And Gueusseum union announced a further total health‑worker strike for 13‑14 August, again with no minimum service provision, maintaining pressure for salary hikes, housing allowances and full implementation of earlier agreements. The series of strikes across Senegal, the DRC and the Republic of Congo continues to disrupt routine health services while emergency care remains the only guaranteed provision.