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Mineworkers

in the manganese-rich town of Kuruman in the Northern Cape are set to benefit from integrated healthcare and social services after government partnered with the mining industry and workers associations to launch the Kuruman One Stop Health Service Centre.The centre will provide integrated services to both active and ex-mineworkers focusing on TB and occupational lung disease assessments. Administrative services for compensation will be available at the centre which is a collaboration between various stakeholders led by government and supported by captains of the mining industry, organised labour and current and ex-mineworker associations.

The main aim is to de-centralise services to claimants and beneficiaries which will make it easier, quicker and more cost-effective for them to receive assistance.

One stop centres are designed to provide medical support to ex-mine workers, who often stop receiving treatment for various reasons when they leave employment.These centres offer medical examinations, rehabilitation assessments, health promotion and counselling to all patients, as well as referrals to other medical specialists if necessary.That means patients can be diagnosed, treated and receive the help they need to remain healthy in one place.The centres also help individuals prepare and submit claims to the Medical Bureau for Occupational Diseases for compensation.

In a statement the Department of Mineral Resources says these service centres will enable government to trace eligible previous and current mineworkers who have not claimed their compensation benefits over the past 30 years after they contracted occupational lung disease.