The African Union Development Agency–NEPAD, in partnership with Tshiamiso Trust, the Department of Health South Africa; Medical Bureau of Occupational Diseases (MBOD) and the Compensation Commissioner of Occupational Diseases (CCOD), convened the Kujenga Workshop on 28 March – 01 April 2022 in Cape Town South Africa.

The opening ceremony of the five-day workshop held in Cape Town South Africa was attended by the Deputy Minister of the Department of Health of South Africa, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo who delivered the keynote speech. The Deputy Minister outlined the importance of prioritising the health of African workers, as well as how the creation of an Occupational Health Centre Blueprint would play a pivotal role in correcting the imbalances of the past.

Three institutions came together, AUDA-NEPAD, Tshiamiso Trust, MBOD / CCOD, with support from the World Bank and the Global Fund, to present a united front in the fight against TB and occupational diseases in the SADC region towards realising national, regional, and international targets.

The workshop which is appropriately named ‘Kujenga’, meaning ‘building, to construct, to build’ in Swahili, brought together experts and stakeholders to work in creating a blueprint that will contribute to sustainable, innovative, comprehensive, and harmonised occupational health services, which can be implemented and mobilised as a fully-fledged sustainable OHC in various African Union Member States.

Tshiamiso Trust CEO Mr Daniel Kotton stated that every effort has been taken at the workshop to make sure concrete and detailed plans are put in place to ensure occupational health services are more accessible to the most vulnerable.

AUDA-NEPAD Principal Policy Specialist Ms Chimwemwe Chamdimba concluded by saying that the workshop had been successful in defining an ideal blueprint structure that will be used in strengthening partnerships. She reiterated the importance of countries being at the forefront and taking ownership of the intervention to ensure sustainability.

The mission provided a platform for member states (ministries responsible for health, labour and mining), labour unions and ex-mineworkers association, private sector, development partners and industry experts to reflect on lessons learned in the conceptualisation and implementation of OHSCs. It also enables the development of a country and regional blueprint for sustainable management.

Countries have invested significantly in the fight against TB in the workplace and strengthening Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) systems with the support of partners. In this regard, 12 Occupational Health and Safety Centres (OHSCs) have been established in 8 countries, and countries such as Malawi and Mozambique are adding more. However, there are still challenges in sustaining these efforts due to gaps in policy frameworks, human capacity, multi-sectoral collaboration, funding, and integration of existing occupational health and compensation systems.

The sustainability of any development in the region, including OSH, OHSCs or TB investments, can only be realised when there is a sound, comprehensive strategic direction, OSH policies, and guidelines that employees, government, and employers can implement. A unified and harmonised language is essential; therefore, harmonising these key policy instruments and approaches in the region is imperative. Member States are at different stages of establishing OHS systems, and the need for intra and inter-country knowledge exchange and multi-sectoral collaboration was emphasised in the workshop. Access to compensation has proven to be a challenge for many miners that worked in South African mines. There is a need for Members States, Tshiamiso Trust and MBOD/CCOD to harness working relations to accelerate compensation of current and ex-mine workers. The blueprint is coming at an opportune time to guide the current compensation and establishment of future in-country occupational health and compensation systems.