Thirty-one professors from the University of Kinshasa, the largest in the country, have died since January. Illness, poor medical care, difficult working conditions are among the causes, according to the association of UNIKIN professors. This is the first time that the university has achieved these figures in one year. Kinshasa, the troubling situation in academia.
as reported from Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
Contrary to many people’s beliefs, coronavirus is not the only cause of this mortality. According to the Association of Professors at the University of Kinshasa, perhaps six people died of Covid-19. Most of them died during the encirclement of the city of Kinshasa. Some who were ill could not travel abroad, as the borders were closed for about four months.
Professors also complain about the government’s failure to cover medical care. In addition, there is no longer the structure that functioned as a mutual health insurance company that sometimes replaces drug bills.
There are also the difficult working conditions for these teachers, most of whom are over 60 years old. There are about 1,100 professors for a student population of almost 30,000 at the University of Kinshasa alone. To this must be added the fact that many of them teach at several other universities in the country.
In September, they were received by Félix Tshisekedi. The head of state had promised to get involved so that solutions could be found. The teachers are still waiting.
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