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Preventive Medicine 2018 Journal of Preventive Medicine
ISSN: 2572-5483 Page 30
July 16-17, 2018
London, UK
9th Edition of International Conference on
Preventive Medicine
& Public Health
I n Zimbabwe, illegal gold mining is an attraction to most
poor men, women and children. In the country, poverty is
associated with economic meltdown. Weak enforcement of
mining laws has seen a rise in illegal gold mining activities:
some of the miners are foreign nationals from neighboring
Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia etc. This livelihood activity
is linked to public health concerns such as liberal use of
chemicals, extensive environmental degradation, HIV/AIDS,
violence, child labor and women abuse. This study focused on
use and storage of chemicals by illegal gold miners along the
gold-rich Great Dyke region. Qualitative data were collected
from women, men and children involved in illegal gold mining
and processing, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Health Centers,
and Faculty of Mining Sciences at a University in Zimbabwe.
The miners used chemicals such as mercury, carbon and
cyanide to extract gold from its ore. The miners especially
women and children have little knowledge about the effects
of the chemicals on humans and the environment. Poisoned
miners rarely seek specialized medical attention; if they do,
they neither disclose their correct residential addresses nor
proper medical history for fear of being arrested. Worrisomely,
most of these miners are undocumented migrants. These
chemicals are stored in food containers and there are no
lockable storerooms. Chemicals residues and used containers
are recklessly disposed into rivers and anthills. The chemicals
do not affect the miners only; they have a life threating effect
to animals, plants, fish and people who are not involved in
the mining activity. The study recommends sensitization of
communities about the far reaching effects of the chemicals
contamination. Community leaders and public health workers
should be involved in controlling the use and disposal of
chemicals by illegal miners.
Biography
Viola Matunhu is from Midlands State University, Zimbabwe.
Use and management of mining chemicals by illegal gold miners
in the Great Dyke, Zimbabwe
Matunhu V
Midlands State University, Zimbabwe
Matunhu V, J Prev Med 2018, Volume 3
DOI: 10.21767/2572-5483-C1-002