By Staff Reporter

A deadly occupational disease is silently ravaging Kwekwe’s mining community, with Kwekwe General Hospital recording an average of one silicosis-related death every week, as health authorities warn that the incurable lung disease is tightening its grip on the city’s miners.

Kwekwe General Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Tinashe Gunda revealed the alarming statistics recently, saying the hospital admits dozens of silicosis patients every year, with wards consistently occupied by victims battling the debilitating disease.

Speaking on the sidelines of a donation of 100 blankets by Pick n Pay Supermarket, Dr Gunda said the hospital had already recorded more than 22 silicosis admissions this year, with between 12 and 15 patients admitted at any given time.

“Silicosis is a big challenge in Kwekwe. We still have a lot of patients who come with silicosis and we continue to face challenges in managing them,” he said.

The hospital is losing about one patient every week, translating to between 50 and 60 deaths annually.

“Two weeks ago, we had about two deaths in one week. That is the average number of deaths we are seeing. When you calculate it over a year, it comes to about 50 or 60 deaths, which is not good,” said Dr Gunda.

Silicosis is caused by prolonged inhalation of silica dust, a hazard common in mining operations. The disease permanently scars the lungs, making breathing increasingly difficult, and has no cure once it develops.

“Unfortunately, silicosis is incurable. Once it is there, it is very difficult to manage. We still have a very big challenge,” Dr Gunda said.

In response to the growing crisis, Kwekwe General Hospital plans to intensify community outreach programmes targeting mining communities through health education campaigns and screening exercises aimed at detecting the disease early and preventing new infections.

“What we need to do is to give health education and go into mining communities to screen people so that we reduce the number of cases coming to the hospital,” he said.

Dr Gunda admitted that interventions introduced so far had yet to produce significant results but expressed hope that increased awareness, regular screening and stronger collaboration between health authorities, mining companies and communities would help stem the tide of the deadly disease.