Midlands Correspondent
Kwekwe General Hospital has recorded about 43 silicosis-related deaths between January and August this year, amid a continued rise in cases of the occupational lung disease.
Kwekwe General Hospital medical superintendent Dr Tinashe Gunda revealed the figures to journalists on the sidelines of the Kwekwe District Silicosis Awareness Conference held at Kwekwe Polytechnic.
Dr Gunda said the hospital had recorded 164 silicosis patients admitted during the eight-month period, with an average of one death recorded every week. Silicosis is a fatal, incurable lung disease caused by breathing in fine silica dust underground. Artisanal and small-scale gold miners aged 25 to 54 face the highest risk. Many work without proper respiratory masks or protective gear.
“In average, we have about eight to twelve patients admitted at a time, with an average of one death per week. From January to August, we have had about 43 deaths,” he said.
He said the number of silicosis admissions had been rising since the problem was first noticed in 2021.
“The statistics have been rising. The problem was first noticed in 2021, that`s when we started having admissions, we had around six admissions in 2021. From 2022 onwards, it was rising until this year, 2026, and from January to August, we have 164 patients that have been admitted.”
Dr Gunda said urgent measures were needed to contain the disease and reduce the number of new cases.
“If we fail to control it currently, it may get worse. We are trying to put measures to control it and prevent it so that we reduce the incidence,” he said.
He said silicosis has no cure, with treatment mainly focused on supporting patients whose lungs have been damaged by the disease.
“There is no treatment for silicosis. It`s the lungs that are fibrotic, the lungs that are no longer functioning well. It`s just supportive treatment, particularly oxygen treatment, and oxygen therapy does not interact with any treatment. Sometimes we use steroids to try and just reduce the inflammation, but it’s not really treatment. It’s just to try and prolong their life a little bit,” he explained.
Dr Gunda said similarities between silicosis and tuberculosis can sometimes make diagnosis difficult, potentially resulting in patients receiving TB treatment instead of the oxygen therapy required for silicosis.
“The only issue is sometimes the picture confuses with TB, so a patient will go on TB treatment and then we may lose the patient while they are on TB treatment and they are not receiving the oxygen supply therapy that is needed.”
He urged small-scale miners to adopt preventive measures to reduce their exposure to silica dust. He said wet mining, which involves using water during activities such as drilling and crushing rock to prevent silica dust from becoming airborne, can help reduce exposure.
“Small-scale miners should try to use preventive measures that we talk about, which begins with the environment that they work in, to just reduce the exposure to silica dust. They should do wet mining.”
He also emphasised the need for proper use of protective clothing.
“I know some small-scale miners may not have enough equipment to implement all the things that they should, but at least they should be able to use protective clothing such as masks, and wear them properly. If they don’t know, they should go for training. That alone may reduce the risk of silicosis,” Dr Gunda said.
The inaugural conference was officially opened by the Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Owen Ncube, who also called for concerted efforts to tackle silicosis.
