By Flata Kavinga
Kwekwe General Hospital is currently accommodating an average of 10 silicosis patients at any given time, with the institution recording at least one death every week due to complications related to the occupational lung disease, the hospital’s new Medical Superintendent, Dr Tinashe Gunda, has said.
In an interview, Dr Gunda said the high number of cases was linked to Kwekwe’s status as a major mining town, where many workers are exposed to silica dust over long periods.
“As you know, Kwekwe is a mining town, so we have a very high burden of patients who come to the institution with silicosis,” said Dr Gunda. “Currently we have an average of about 10 admitted patients at a given time and unfortunately we lose some. Weekly, we may lose about one of the patients because of silicosis.”
Silicosis is a chronic and often fatal lung disease caused by prolonged inhalation of silica dust, commonly affecting mine workers. Dr Gunda said patients admitted with the condition often require prolonged hospitalisation, further straining the institution’s limited resources.
He said the hospital provides oxygen therapy and medication to the patients, most of whom are not paying for services, placing additional financial pressure on the facility.
“When the patients come to our institution, they tend to stay for a long period of time,” he said. “We support them on oxygen and give them drugs, but they are not paying patients, so the hospital is actually strained in terms of supporting them.”
Dr Gunda appealed to mining companies and the broader community to play a more active role in both prevention and support, urging strict adherence to safety measures at mining sites.
“I’m appealing to the community, particularly in the mining sector, to make sure that all precautions are observed and that workers are wearing protective clothing to try and prevent this disease,” he said.
He also called on mining companies to assist the hospital with resources, particularly oxygen concentrators, which would allow patients to be discharged earlier once stabilised.
“We intend that patients should be discharged when they are stabilised,” said Dr Gunda. “It is better for them to stay at home with their families than to remain in hospital. We urge mining companies to help us with the procurement of oxygen concentrators so that we can discharge these patients sooner.”
Dr Gunda said the hospital was also exploring arrangements to ensure patients continue receiving medication while at home, a move aimed at reducing congestion and pressure on the hospital’s wards.
