Accessing Occupational Health Services in the Southern African Development Community Region

Abstract

Only 15% of the global population has access to occupational safety and health services. In Africa, only 5% of employees working from major establishments have access to occupational health services (OHS). Access to primary health care (PHC) services is addressed in many settings and inclusion of OHS in these facilities might increase efficiency in preventing occupational diseases. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries aiming at assessing the availability of OHS at PHC facilities and the organization of OHS. We conducted a literature review to assess the provision and organization of OHS services. In addition to the review, a total of 23 doctors from Zambia were interviewed using questionnaires in order to determine the availability of OHS and training. Consultations with heads of ministries were done in four SADC countries. Results showed that in the SADC region, OHS are fragmented and lack a comprehensive approach. In addition, out of 23 PHC facilities, only two (13%) provided occupational health and PHC. However, OHS provided at PHC facilities were limited to TB screening and audiometric testing. Our study showed a huge inadequacy of trained occupational health practitioners. This study supports the World Health Organization’s advocacy to integrate OHS at the PHC level.

Enterprise-Based Participatory Action Research in the Development of a Basic Occupational Health Service Model in Thailand

“…Remarkably, despite the rise in employers and employees, the number of occupational injuries or illnesses on record at the Social Security Office decreased from 86,278 to 78,245 between 2017 and 2021, and the number of occupational injuries or diseases similarly decreased [ 2 ]. Thus, in the face of increasing industrial activities in the last two decades, which introduce new hazards and new health outcomes [ 3 ], one way to address the occupational health issues of the working population is to strengthen the provision of occupational health services (OHS) and in particular BOHS [ 4 ].…”

Occupational Safety and Health Management in Selected Industrial Sectors in Sudan

“…13 Masekameni et al argued that OHS in developing countries lags considerably behind developed countries in delivering OHS services to workers. 14 Nuwayhid reasoned that the limited access to OHS services in low-income countries (LIC) is due to the lack of government interest in occupational health, inadequate data collection methods, and lax implementation of health and safety legislation, besides the challenging social, economic, and political situations. 15 In addition, the growing competition and lack of supervision in some developing countries, where most of the global occupational deaths and injuries happen, are due to minimized labor costs and the standards of workers' protection.…”

Occupational Health and Safety Issues among Artisans in the Bibiani Municipality

“…In the United States, organization of occupational health and safety has evolved over the last 5 decades with the advent of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which provided for a research, recommendations and guidance wing called NIOSH (National Institute Of Occupational Safety and Health), an implementation body called OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), and a support platform for employers by both NIOSH and OSHA (Howard & Hearl, 2012). The OHS issues came up early in Southern Africa after the discovery of gold in the late 19 th century and it is largely private-sector led in the mining industry compared to the public sector (Masekameni et al, 2020).…”