Masoyise Health Programme

The Masoyise Health Programme was approved by the Minerals Council Board in November 2018 as a three-year programme that will run till the end of 2021. The programme has a wider focus beyond TB and HIV. It has adopted a wellness approach that incorporates non-communicable diseases and occupational lung diseases.

 

The vision of the programme is “A mining industry that protects and maximises the health and wellness of its employees.” Its goal is “To reduce the impact of TB, HIV, OLDs and NCDs as occupational health threats in the mining sector”

 

The programme recognises international, national and industry targets and focusses on improved collaboration and resource mobilisation. Its monitoring and evaluation framework has been widened to cater for its wider focus. It is envisaged that this programme will assist in improving the overall health of employees in the industry.

 

The Masoyise Health Programme is a multi-stakeholder initiative with representatives of Minerals Council member companies, trade unions (NUM, Solidarity, AMCU, UASA), government (Department of Health and Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, the Mine Health and Safety Council, National Health Laboratory Service and National Institute of Occupational Health), SABCOHA and multilateral organisations including UNAIDS, ILO and WHO. Its Steering Committee is chaired by Mr Andile Sangqu, the Vice President of the Minerals Council South Africa.

 

The precursor to Masoyise Health Programme was Masoyise iTB (“Lets Beat TB”), whose aim was to increase counselling for HIV and screening for TB in the industry.

 

“South Africa’s mining industry is conscious that, for a range of reasons, tuberculosis (TB) and HIV-Aids are a special challenge for our members and their employees. The industry has taken on the challenge in the fight to control and eventually eradicate these diseases. With that imperative as motivation, the industry has put considerable time and resources into supporting government’s fight against TB and HIV-Aids. In facing the TB challenge, the industry has been focussing on the ‘social determinants’ of TB – the factors that play a pivotal role in predisposing an individual to TB. For us, these factors are dust control; HIV-AIDS and TB prevention and treatment; improvements in employee housing; and collaboration with key stakeholders involved in the fight against TB”, wrote Mr Sangquin an opinion piece published in City Press in September 2018.