Mining activities in Zambia bring the much needed revenue
for development.
Being the second largest copper producer in Africa, Zambia largely
depends on taxes from the mines to cushion its coffers.
However, mining has its own effects on people's health.
Tuberculosis (TB) is one disease which is predominantly
found in mining towns.
For example, the Copperbelt Province has the highest cases
of TB among provinces in the country.
According to Ministry of Health records, out of every 100,000
Copperbelt residents, about 1,112 have TB.
This figure is higher than the national average for 2014
which stood at 39 TB cases per 100,000 residents in 2014, according to World
Health Organisation (WHO)’s TB Country Profile for Zambia.
Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya |
The World Bank funded project is aimed at fighting TB in
mining towns where thousands of residents are patients.
The World Bank has incorporated the Ministries of Health,
Labour and Mines to implement the project, with the Ministry of Health being the
lead.
In the next five years, the three ministries will work
together to fight TB in the mining sector.
“The impact of TB on the economy is big. Loss of productivity,
loss of man hours and the loss of family income,” added Dr. Chilufya.
Labour Minister Joyce Simukoko, believes that the project
will help miners access health services.
Labour Minister Joyce Simukoko |
Meanwhile, World Bank Country Manager Ina Ruthenberg disclosed
that the Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health System Support Project is being
implemented in a total of four Southern African countries at the total cost of US$122
million.
She named the countries as Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho and
Zambia.
“The project will therefore support the implementation of
the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Heads of State Declaration of
2012 on TB as an Emergency in the Mining Sector and will also support the
region and Zambia’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, which
include TB and the World Health Organisation’s End TB Targets,” said Ms
Ruthenberg in a speech read for her by World Bank Senior Health Specialist Ronald
Mutasa at the launch of the project.
In the course of the implementation phase, a Center of Excellence
will be built at the Kitwe-based Occupational Health and Safety Institute where
equipment will also be installed.
World Bank Senior Health Specialist Ronald Mutasa |
The equipment will help in early detection and surveillance
of TB.
According to Occupational Health and Safety Institute Director Dr. Connard Mwansa, the Center of Excellence will make service delivery easy for the miners.
"We will be able to conduct various services we do not currently do. Most cases we refer miners to the hospital but when get the equipment, we will be able to provide alot of services at the center," said Dr. Mwansa in an interview.
Meanwhile, two unions in the mining sector have welcomed the Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health System Support Project saying it will save many lives.
"We thank the World Bank for the US$45 million project. this will help the Occupational Health and Safety Institute finish the office they are constructing in Solwezi. As you know, the North Western Province has a number of mines and this project will help in our members there to be served in their area," said Mine Workers Union of Zambia General Secretary Joseph Chewe.
Another mine union had similar sentiments.
"This investment by the World Bank will go a long way. It will make the Occupational Health and Safety Institute a One Stop Shop for miners. This will save thousands of our members who are affected by Tuberculosis," said National Union of Miners and Allied Workers President James Chansa in an interview.
By law, any person who is employed as a miner is supposed to be examined by the Occupational Health and Safety Institute which is located at the Mine Safety Department in Kitwe.
Every year, miners are also expected to be tested at the institute at least once to check their fitness.
This workload, which sees thousands of miners besieging the institute's offices, makes the job a bit difficult for the workers and the idea of a mobile team to be testing the miners in various mines and towns is being piloted.
According to Occupational Health and Safety Institute Director Dr. Connard Mwansa, the Center of Excellence will make service delivery easy for the miners.
"We will be able to conduct various services we do not currently do. Most cases we refer miners to the hospital but when get the equipment, we will be able to provide alot of services at the center," said Dr. Mwansa in an interview.
Meanwhile, two unions in the mining sector have welcomed the Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health System Support Project saying it will save many lives.
"We thank the World Bank for the US$45 million project. this will help the Occupational Health and Safety Institute finish the office they are constructing in Solwezi. As you know, the North Western Province has a number of mines and this project will help in our members there to be served in their area," said Mine Workers Union of Zambia General Secretary Joseph Chewe.
Another mine union had similar sentiments.
"This investment by the World Bank will go a long way. It will make the Occupational Health and Safety Institute a One Stop Shop for miners. This will save thousands of our members who are affected by Tuberculosis," said National Union of Miners and Allied Workers President James Chansa in an interview.
By law, any person who is employed as a miner is supposed to be examined by the Occupational Health and Safety Institute which is located at the Mine Safety Department in Kitwe.
Every year, miners are also expected to be tested at the institute at least once to check their fitness.
This workload, which sees thousands of miners besieging the institute's offices, makes the job a bit difficult for the workers and the idea of a mobile team to be testing the miners in various mines and towns is being piloted.
According to the WHO’s 2015 Country TB profile for Zambia, the
southern African country recorded five thousand deaths due to TB in that year.
The report also revealed that 41, 588 TB cases where
reported in 2015.
Zambia has only had one prevalence survey of Tuberculosis.
The National Tuberculosis Prevalence Survey 2013 – 2014 revealed that TB occurs three times higher in urban areas than in the rural
areas.
In terms of gender, the survey revealed that more males were
burdened by the disease than females.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The story was originally aired on TV1 on 30 March 2017 and it can be watched here. A follow up story specifically on the Regional Center of Excellence was also aired on TV1 on 01 April 2017 and its YouTube link can be accessed here.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The story was originally aired on TV1 on 30 March 2017 and it can be watched here. A follow up story specifically on the Regional Center of Excellence was also aired on TV1 on 01 April 2017 and its YouTube link can be accessed here.
AWARD wining piece ,keep it muntu wandi
ReplyDeleteNatotela wemukalamba. Lesa apale
DeleteCan nicely write on similar topics! Welcome to here you'll find out how it should look. Construction Management
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