Liberian Healthcare Workers Launch Strike

Amidst growing concerns that more than one million people could become infected by Ebola before the new year, Liberian healthcare workers launched a strike today.

Liberia is at the forefront of the Ebola epidemic, with officials reporting that some 2,300 Liberians have died since the outbreak first occurred back in March, 95 of which were healthcare workers. Ebola is spread through immediate contact with the bodily fluids -- saliva, sweat, blood, urine, etc. -- of an infected patient. While the disease isn't technically airborne, there's an inherit risk of transmission when a healthcare worker treats a patient -- especially when precautions are not taken to protect against exposure to bodily fluids.

Healthcare workers in Liberia say they aren't getting paid enough for the risk involved. The National Health Workers Association (NHWA) is asking for a monthly "risk fee" paid to the struggling country's healthcare workers in addition to their salary. Liberian healthcare workers are currently paid approximately $200 to $300 per month -- a faction of the normal pay a U.S. healthcare worker receives. Liberian workers are asking for a $700 per month payment on top of this amount.

The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stressed the importance of countries from across the globe to invest their money and resources into fighting Ebola. There's currently a severe shortage of both healthcare workers and supplies, making it increasingly difficult to combat this disease as it continues to spread.

It's unknown at this time whether or not the government will step forward to meet the Liberian healthcare workers' demands. Even with the strike now in place, though, some workers showed up to their jobs. This is a promising sign, officials stress that more needs to be done to contain the disease and prevent it from spreading.

"An outbreak of Ebola has been ongoing in Liberia since March 2014. Outbreaks are also occurring in Guinea and Sierra Leone; these outbreaks of Ebola are the largest and most complex in history. A small number of cases have also been reported in Lagos and Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Affected counties in Liberia include Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado (including the capital city of Monrovia), Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, and Sinoe. Civil unrest and violence against aid workers have been reported in West Africa as a result of the outbreak. The public health infrastructure of Liberia is being severely strained as the outbreak grows."