Health Screening Strategies for Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners for Tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Silicosis: A Case of the USAID-Supported Kunda Nqob’iTB Project in Zimbabwe

Dingani Moyo (), Fungai Kavenga, Florence Moyo, Orippa Muzvidziwa, Godknows Madziva, Blessings Chigaraza, Mpokiseng Ncube, Precious Madadangoma, Hellen Masvingo, Tafadzwa Charity Muperi, Tariro Christwish Mando and Ronald Thulani Ncube
Additional contact information
Dingani Moyo: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Fungai Kavenga: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Florence Moyo: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Orippa Muzvidziwa: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Godknows Madziva: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Blessings Chigaraza: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Mpokiseng Ncube: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Precious Madadangoma: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Hellen Masvingo: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Tafadzwa Charity Muperi: Baines Occupational Health Services, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Tariro Christwish Mando: Ministry of Health and Child Care, Harare 024, Zimbabwe
Ronald Thulani Ncube: The Union Zimbabwe Trust, Harare 024, Zimbabwe

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Artisanal and small-scale mining is characterized by excessive exposure to physical, chemical, ergonomic, psychosocial and biological hazards. There is a high burden of tuberculosis (TB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and silicosis among artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs). The aim of this project report is to describe lessons learned from strategies implemented to reach ASMs with screening services for TB, HIV and silicosis in Zimbabwe through the Kunda-Nqob’i TB (KNTB) project supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The intervention package for screening ASMs for TB, HIV and silicosis included service provision through two occupational health clinics at two provincial hospitals and a mobile workplace-based screening (WBS) facility at the mining sites. From 1 October 2020 to 30 September 2023, 10,668 ASMs were screened, with a high number of cases of silicosis (21%) and TB (7.4%). There was a high burden of HIV (30%) in ASMs attending the occupational health clinics. The two occupational health clinics screened 3453 ASMs, while the mobile WBS activities screened 7215 ASMs during the period. A total of 370 healthcare workers (doctors/clinical officers, nurses, environmental health technicians and district tuberculosis and Leprosy control officers) were trained on TB and the fundamental diagnostic principles of silicosis. The KNTB project has been successful in reaching out to many ASMs operating in remote and hard-to-reach mining areas. The KNTB project has brought to light the positive health-seeking behavior of ASMs operating in remote areas. The project has brought to the fore the effectiveness of multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration in reaching out to ASMs in remote areas with health screening services. There is a high burden of TB, HIV and silicosis in ASMs. Screening for TB, HIV and silicosis using workplace-based screening and occupational health clinics is an effective strategy and should be rolled out to all areas with high artisanal and small-scale mining activity.

Keywords: artisanal miners; tuberculosis; silicosis; occupational health; human immunodeficiency virus (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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