The Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care led by Emakhandeni-Luveve Member of Parliament (MP) and Portfolio Committee chairperson, Discent Bajila, conducted a fact-finding visit to Kwekwe General Hospital recently, to assess the impact of the occupational lung disease.
During the visit, Bajila said the visit was important in helping Parliament establish the extent of the problem and identify gaps that require Government intervention.
“The purpose of our visit is to establish the prevalence and burden of silicosis among former miners and to understand the challenges that they are facing in accessing appropriate care and support,” Bajila said.
He said Parliament would use information gathered during the fact-finding exercise to inform interventions aimed at strengthening the health system’s response to occupational diseases.
“The information that we are gathering from Kwekwe General Hospital is critical because it gives us a clearer picture of the impact of silicosis on former miners and the resources that are required to manage the condition,” Bajila said.
The committee was also informed that the hospital was facing shortages of oxygen concentrators, which are essential in providing respiratory support to patients diagnosed with silicosis.
“The shortage of oxygen concentrators is a serious concern because patients with silicosis require oxygen support, and we need to ensure that health facilities are adequately equipped to provide the necessary care,” Bajila said.
The findings from Kwekwe are expected to contribute to broader parliamentary efforts to address occupational health challenges affecting former miners, particularly those who spent years working in environments where they were exposed to silica dust.
The visit also highlighted the long-term consequences of mining-related occupational exposure, with the presence of affected patients as young as 17 raising concerns about the need for stronger preventive measures, early detection and sustained support for affected communities.
