WORLD BANK PROJECT SEEKS EX-MINERS

Mon, 11 Dec 2017 13:58:46 +0000

By PETER MALASHA

THE World Bank in conjunction with Ministry of Labour and Social Security has embarked on a project to identify ex-miners in Mkushi.

The projected which will run for five years was aimed at promoting health and livelihood for people who worked in the mines years back.

Speaking in interview with the Daily Nation, said, the essence of the project was to identify former miners whom at one time were exposed to Tuberculosis environment.

“We are here in Mkushi to identify ex-miners and put in place a stirring committee for National Association of ex-miners and Allied workers.

“This will help us to identify ex-miners exposed to Tuberculosis or now on T.B treatment because T.B takes long to manifest so that they receive assistance from the project. The project will also help members to go for periodical checkups in a bid to combat T.B,” Ms. Mwale said.

Ms. Mwale further said the recruited members in Mkushi will form cooperatives and will be trained in entrepreneurship for sustainability purposes so that when the project wound up members will continue with livelihood activities.

Ms. Mwale said the project will be carried out in Central, Lusaka, Southern, Copperbelt and North-western provinces. She said in Central Province Mkushi, Serenje, Kabwe,Kapiri and Mumbwa are selected on the project because of their mining activities background.

Under the project, the World Bank is working with the Ministry of health, Mines, Labour and Social security as well as National Association of ex-miners and Allied workers.

And new Mkushi District National Association of ex-miners and Allied workers chairperson Godfrey Mupindo thanked the World Bank and the government for the initiative.

Mr. Mupindo said the association in the area was grateful for the World Bank and government to recognize the ex-miners’ contribution to the economy of the country. He said the association would work hard to uplift living standards of the ex-miners.