07 Sep 2017

Minister of Health and Wellness Ms Dorcas Makgato has on September 5 launched the public sector Occupational Health Service Center first of its kind in this country at Boswelakoko clinic in Molepolole.

The centre is reportedly part of regional effort to address Tuberculosis and other occupational health issues in the mining sector in Southern Africa.

Speaking at the launch, Ms Makgato stated that although mining contributes significantly to economies of countries in Southern Africa as well as a source of employment creation employing a significant number of people in those countries, the health of mine workers was often neglected despite the high value of the industry coupled with limited occupational health services.

She mentioned that studies has documented other health implications suffered by miners such as increased exposure to tuberculosis, silicosis and other respiratory diseases, harmful health effects of toxic gases, hearing loss to mention a few.

Given the mix of factors that contribute to the TB epidemic in the mining industry, minister Makgato reiterated that many years of a coordinated multi-country and  multi-sectoral partnership was required hence the initiative focuses on creating a regionally coordinated response to the issue of TB and related illnesses in mineworkers, ex-mine workers, their families and communities.

Further, she said with the support of  Global fund grant, 15 000 people in the mining communities of Palapye, Selebi-Phikwe and Francistown were screened since October last year. 

She added that this efforts have made it possible to identify TB cases more quickly inorder to initiate early treatment.

The minister has therefore clarified that the opening of this Occupational Health Service Center was a testimony to the growth of the multidisciplinary field of occupational health and safety in Botswana and SADC region.

The centre she said offers a unique opportunity for increasing access to integrated health services and compensation for occupational lung diseases including TB.  

The center has specialized occupational health staffing and equipment tailored to provide a minimum package of occupational health services.  

These she indicated include among others screening for TB, Silicosis and case management, HIV/AIDS counseling and testing, Benefit medical examinations including linkage to compensation and electronic submission of compensation claims locally and to South Africa.

In her remarks, Global Fund representative Dr Mary o’Grady also shared the same sentiments with the minister Makgatho saying mining has been a backbone of the Southern African economy for centuries and yet some of the major problems the sector has been experiencing have been persistent over a long period of time.

“One of them is the unacceptably high prevalence of TB in the mines.” 

She emphasised the at the effects are devastating and the disease dents productivity/ puts a drain on health budgets and spreads far into the rural areas that miners migrate from.

She however said the Global Fund is privileged to support coordinated regional action to address the burden of TB in the Mines and ensure no mineworker is left behind in their collective fight towards a world where every mineworker and their family members have access to TB screening and treatment.

Outlining the objectives of the launch, Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and wellness Ms Shenaaz El-Halabi said one of the key objectives was to create awareness on the existence and operations of the centre. 

Also they want to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to understand the TB in mining sector in Southern Africa (TIMS) project.  Most importantly the ministry wanted to solicit support from the community. ENDS