Ebola: Liberian health workers plan strike

Liberian health officials are appealing to nurses and medical assistants not to go ahead with their planned national strike, as the Ebola epidemic continues.

The National Health Workers Association wants an increase in the monthly risk fee paid to those treating Ebola cases.

Liberia's Assistant Health Minister Tolbert Nyenswah said a strike would have negative consequences on those suffering from Ebola and would adversely affect progress made so far in the fight against the disease.

The government says the scale of the epidemic means it now cannot afford the risk fee originally agreed.

The risk fee is currently less than 500 dollars a month, on top of basic salaries of between 200 to 300 dollars.

Staff are now seeking a risk fee of 700 dollars a month, additional personal protective equipment and insurance.

Ninety five of people in the medical profession have so far died from Ebola.

BBC