“It is hard for them to reach the facilities, so, during such programmes, we go to the mining sites,” says Dr Sidakwa. “We provide a comprehensive package and address the health challenges being faced by the artisanal miners, which include HIV, TB, silicosis, limited access to condoms and family planning methods, STIs, drug and substance use and mental health issues.”
The demand for services is high, with the mining community appreciating the efforts by MSF teams to bring healthcare services closer to where they are.
“I find it hard to visit the clinic, even when I feel sick. During the day, we will be busy in the mining holes, so I better sacrifice to get money to fend for my family. We suffer from the inside with generalised aches and pains but we just ignore them, but chest pains are severe. Now that we are getting medical services here, it is easier for me,” said Amon Ndhlovu, one of the artisanal miners.
Effective control of TB, silicosis, and HIV among miners requires addressing the identified knowledge gaps and barriers that are faced by miners in accessing personal protective equipment and healthcare services. This will require multi-sector collaboration and the involvement of miners in co-designing a package of healthcare services that are tailored for them.
To ensure sustainable access to healthcare services by artisanal miners, MSF recommends stakeholders to collaborate with MoHCC to ensure that artisanal miners access health services with the establishment of health posts in places nearer to mining communities.
Fonte original msf.org
