TB risk in mining sector spotlighted
TB claimed 1.6 million lives in 2021
The risk of TB infection among miners is estimated to be as much as ten times higher than in the populations from which they originate.
The health and social services ministry, in collaboration with the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC), gathered key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, civil society organisations, and mining communities at the Windhoek Country Club to participate in a crucial workshop aimed at addressing the challenges of Tuberculosis (TB) in the mining sector.
The workshop, which focused on developing country implementation of mine health and safety standard operating procedures, sought to prioritise prevention, effective screening, and treatment of TB among mine workers.
GRAVE SITUATION
Ben Nangombe, executive director of the ministry, launched the workshop by emphasising the gravity of the global tuberculosis epidemic, particularly in developing countries.
Despite being preventable and curable, TB continues to impact millions of lives, claiming 1.6 million lives in 2021 alone.
Namibia, in particular, has faced significant challenges in managing TB, ranking as the ninth highest country worldwide in terms of TB incidence rate with 460 cases per 100 000 population.
High-risk environment
Nangombe emphasised the urgency of addressing the TB burden in the mining sector, stating: "One group at exceptionally high risk of contracting TB is mineral miners. Working conditions inside mines create a high-risk environment for TB transmission, resulting from confined and poorly ventilated environments conducive to transmission."
He said the TB incidence among miners is estimated to be as much as ten times higher than in the populations from which they originate.
To combat the TB epidemic in the mining sector, ECSA-HC has developed four generic standard operating procedures that address risk management, early diagnosis and surveillance, information, education and communication, quality management, and monitoring and evaluation of TB, HIV, and occupational lung diseases in the mining sector.
The workshop, which focused on developing country implementation of mine health and safety standard operating procedures, sought to prioritise prevention, effective screening, and treatment of TB among mine workers.
GRAVE SITUATION
Ben Nangombe, executive director of the ministry, launched the workshop by emphasising the gravity of the global tuberculosis epidemic, particularly in developing countries.
Despite being preventable and curable, TB continues to impact millions of lives, claiming 1.6 million lives in 2021 alone.
Namibia, in particular, has faced significant challenges in managing TB, ranking as the ninth highest country worldwide in terms of TB incidence rate with 460 cases per 100 000 population.
High-risk environment
Nangombe emphasised the urgency of addressing the TB burden in the mining sector, stating: "One group at exceptionally high risk of contracting TB is mineral miners. Working conditions inside mines create a high-risk environment for TB transmission, resulting from confined and poorly ventilated environments conducive to transmission."
He said the TB incidence among miners is estimated to be as much as ten times higher than in the populations from which they originate.
To combat the TB epidemic in the mining sector, ECSA-HC has developed four generic standard operating procedures that address risk management, early diagnosis and surveillance, information, education and communication, quality management, and monitoring and evaluation of TB, HIV, and occupational lung diseases in the mining sector.
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