Ninth highest tuberculosis incidence rate in the world
TB incidence among miners ten times higher than in the general population
Executive Director of Health, Ben Nangombe yesterday opened the workshop to develop country-specific implementation of mining health and safety standards to clarify standard operating procedures for tuberculosis (TB) in the mining sector.Although it has been 30 years since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared tuberculosis a global emergency, the TB epidemic continues to affect many countries around the world, particularly developing countries. Although TB is preventable and curable, an estimated 10.6 million people, including 1.2 million children, contracted the disease in 2021, and approximately 1.6 million people died from it.
In the mining sector in southern Africa, TB poses a major public health challenge. The impact is felt not only by the affected individuals and their families but also by the wider community. Nangombe explained: “In 2022, Namibia was ranked by the WHO as the ninth highest incidence rate in the world for tuberculosis, with an incidence rate of 460 per 100 000 people.”
Tuberculosis is an opportunistic infection caused by mycobacteria and usually affects people with a weakened immune system. According to data, the most common risk factor for TB infection in Namibia is HIV, followed by malnutrition, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking and diabetes.
However, one group at particularly high risk of TB are the miners. Working conditions in the mines pose a high risk of tuberculosis transmission, as the cramped and poorly ventilated conditions encourage transmission. “It is estimated that the incidence of tuberculosis among miners is ten times higher than in the population from which they come. Therefore, prioritising TB services in the mining communities is paramount.”
The ECSA-HC (East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community), an intergovernmental health organisation that promotes regional health cooperation between member states, has developed four general standard operating procedures (SOPs) to improve health and safety in mining. These are designed to help member states prioritize the prevention, effective diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis among miners.
The four SOPs cover risk management, early diagnosis and surveillance of TB, HIV and occupational lung disease in mining; information, education and communication about TB; 1uality management of TB and HIV; and the surveillance and assessment of the disease.
Nangombe added: “To be effective, the criteria adopted in this workshop should be integrated into the frameworks of the Ministry of Health and Social Services, as well as those of the relevant government departments/ministries and partner organisations.”
The workshop also discussed the importance of addressing health in the mining sector. These include factors such as poor working conditions, inadequate housing and limited access to health care, all of which can contribute to the spread of TB.