Southern African declaration targets TB in mining sector

摘要

While mineworkers' rights and working conditions are under scrutiny with the latest spate of wage strikes at South African platinum mines, an ongoing southern African initiative to stop rampant mine-associated tuberculosis in its tracks is gaining momentum. South Africa's 500000 mineworkers have the highest tuberculosis incidence in the world with 3000 to 7000 per 100 000 miners infected compared with the global incidence rate of 128 per 100000, according to Stop TB Partnership. In the general South African population the tuberculosis incidence is about 900 per 100 000.