Akanksha Mimi Malhotra is a medical doctor and researcher at The Health Research Unit Zimbabwe and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK. As part of a Wellcome-funded Clinical PhD Fellowship in Health Priorities for the Global South, her research is exploring the impact of silica dust exposure and tuberculosis amongst artisanal and small-scale miners in Zimbabwe.
Previous TB is a major risk factor for persistent pulmonary impairment. PTLD remains under-diagnosed and under-treated with consequences of ongoing health-seeking and income loss. Our data emphasises the need for preventive strategies and tailored interventions.
Source: Conference 2024There is a critical need for targeted health screening and comprehensive care for this vulnerable group. Whilst the KNTB model showed considerable promise, expanding such interventions to reach ASMs in other regions and addressing additional health priorities will require enhanced collaboration between the mining sector, the Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders.
Source: Conference 2024