Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is implementing an Artisanal Small-Scale Gold Mining Basic Healthcare project (ASGM-BHC) in Gwanda, Zimbabwe. This project provides artisanal miners (ASMs) and host communities (HCs) with quality and accessible curative and preventive healthcare. In Zimbabwe, ASMs often operate in remote areas where formal services are either absent or difficult to reach. Even in areas closer to health facilities, miners typically prioritise their work over seeking health services due to time constraints, economic pressures, and the need to maximise daily earnings. MSF is addressing this gap by offering basic healthcare through an outreach model across 30 mining sites in Gwanda District. In addition, MSF is working closely with the Ministry of Health and Childcare (MoHCC) to strengthen policies that support comprehensive service delivery in hard-to-reach communities.
In most cases, artisanal miners, a majority whom are men, are nomadic making it difficult to maintain family stability engage in their mining activities. This has exposed them to several challenges including high risk of contracting Sexually Transmitted Illnesses and increased exposure to HIV and AIDS. This Father’s Day on 15 June, MSF Zimbabwe would like to highlight the story of Zibusiso Ndlovu, an artisanal miner in Gwanda. Despite the challenges of artisanal mining, Zibusiso has stayed with his wife and children since 2003, the year he got married. Together with his family, he has navigated harsh working conditions in a sector often characterised by instability and health risks.
Armed with only basic tools such as a shovel, hammer, wheelbarrow, plastic containers, and no personal protective equipment no clothing, no gloves, no masks, Zibusiso toils long hours underground, fully aware of the health risks but driven by the need to provide for his loved ones. Like many others, he has faced numerous occupational hazards, including respiratory issues, injuries, and exposure to harmful dust and chemicals. In the past, he and his colleagues could not even afford to take time off work to seek treatment, often enduring severe symptoms silently. But now things have improved due to MSF’s health outreach programme as miners can now access healthcare services closer to the miners’ work stations.