WINDHOEK, July 31 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's Ministry of Health and Social Services (MHSS), in collaboration with the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community, is hosting a workshop on tackling tuberculosis (TB) and enhancing health and safety standards in the mining sector.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, MHSS Executive Director Ben Nangombe said the workshop aims to address the persistent TB epidemic in the mining communities of Southern Africa and develop country-wide implementation of standard operating procedures on mine health and safety.
The key objectives of the workshop include educating and training relevant organizations, developing advocacy plans, and communicating key strategies to prioritize prevention, screening, and treatment of TB in mining communities, Nangombe said.
In Namibia, TB remains a burden, particularly among mineral miners and people living with HIV, he said.
"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," Nangombe said. "The TB incidence among miners is estimated to be as much as 10 times higher than in the populations from which they originate."
"Prioritization of TB services in the mining communities is of paramount importance," he said.
Nangombe said addressing the social determinants of health in the mining sector, such as poor working conditions, inadequate housing, and limited access to healthcare, will be critical to stemming the spread of TB.
In 2022, Namibia was ranked as the ninth-highest in the world for TB incidence, with a rate of 460 cases per 100,000 people, according to the World Health Organization.
