'TB cases high among mine workers’ 21 October 2024

TB incidence among mine workers is estimated to be ten times higher than in the general population. This is according to the health ministry’s executive director, Ben Nangombe. He said this during the signing of a new set of Mine Health and Safety Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on Monday in Windhoek. “Mining as a critical sector in Namibia’s economy, has long been associated with health risks such as TB due to the working conditions, including poor ventilation and exposure to hazardous dust,” he said. According to Nangombe the high prevalence of TB among miners is exacerbated by factors such as HIV, malnutrition, excessive alcohol use, and smoking, making the mining workforce particularly vulnerable.

Nangombe, stressed the importance of the SOPs in addressing public health challenges in the mining sector, particularly tuberculosis (TB), HIV, and occupational lung diseases (OLDs). Namibia ranked 11th globally in TB incidence. The new SOPs are a direct response to this pressing issue and aim to prioritize the prevention, screening, and treatment of TB, HIV, and OLDs in Namibia’s mining communities. According to Nangombe, these procedures are based on four key pillars: risk management, early diagnosis and medical surveillance, information and education on diseases, quality management, and monitoring and evaluation of health programs. “This initiative follows the 2012 Southern African Development Community (SADC) Declaration on Tuberculosis in the Mining Sector, which called for member states to address the high TB rates in mining,” he said.

…Despite these advances, challenges remain. Nangombe acknowledged that gaps in surveillance, lack of standardized screening tools, and inadequate frameworks for occupational health oversight still hinder progress. “For this reason, the SOPs also emphasise the importance of collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, and NGOs to ensure effective implementation,” he said. Nangombe added that a Multi-Stakeholder Committee on TB in the Mining Sector has been established to oversee the rollout of the SOPs and address these systemic challenges. The Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), alongside other key ministries, set the new standards