By Staff Reporter

Twenty two people have succumbed to Silicosis at Kwekwe General Hospital, it has been revealed.

Kwekwe General Hospital Medical Superitendent Patricia Mapanda told Minister Of State for Midlands Province, Owen Ncube, recently that the disease which is nearly related to tuberculosis has claimed many lives.

“Silicosis is almost related to Tuberculosis and we have admitted six people now but we have had 22 deaths and you can see that this disease is dangerous. We have since created a Silicosis ward and turned our Covid ward to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) but we are saying we need more oxygen as it is quite needed to manage the disease,” she said.

Silicosis is a type of pulmonary or lung disease caused by breathing tiny bits of silica, a common mineral found in sands, quartz and many other types of rock.