Despite child labor being unlawful; a significant number of children; some as young as 11 years old remain dominantly present in such hazardous industries as tobacco and mining.
“I’ve been into quarry mining so I can raise finances for my education needs like uniform and school reports,” says Janet Lawrence at Ng’onga Quarry mine in Balaka district.
Aged 13; without, any protective garment or a face mask; her daily routine revolves around smashing rocks into stones and stones into smaller quarry particles and in the process in-hailing dust.
“Most often I have a flue. I guess it’s because of my regular exposure to dust,” she adds.
However, Janet isn’t the lone child inside Ng’onga Hills. There are many.
Another is Eliza Ellaton, aged 11. Her story resonates with that of many being exposed to the threat of TB according to Dr. Daniel Nyangulu a seasoned TB specialist.
He says children should not at any cost come closer to any mining operation as the dust puts at risk the health and functionality of the lungs.
“Mind you; we were are talking of children being exposed to these dusty environments … because too much exposure to dust put these children at risk of infection and development of TB. What’s happening is a setback to the fight against TB,” says Nyangulu.
Sadly; children at this mine feign ignorance about the implications of such hazardous environments like this being a breeding ground for Tuberculosis.
Whilst confessing the risk of TB; their guardians confess the danger their wards are being exposed to according to Edna Lawrence – one guardian.
Echoing Dr. Nyangulu, George Jobe – chairperson of the Malawi health equity network, a health rights campaign group says the trends in Ng’onga Hills need urgent addressing if Malawi is to eliminate TB by 2030.
“We cannot be aspiring to eliminate TB when we are having children in mines. What’s happening there is breeding the future cohort of TB patients,” Jobe explains.
The predicament; also a safety-and-occupational threat isn’t only a concern for children; the old are equally being affected.
Phunzilo Chiwaula a survivor of TB recounts “I suspect I got my TB from my exposure to dust at this quarry mine where I had been since my childhood days. Gladly; my case was detected earlier and I received treatment,” says Chiwaula.
With such a ticking time bomb; labor authorities commit to regular inspection activities to uproot all children from mining sites
“It’s sad that despite having laws meant to promote children’s rights child labor is not only continuing … but these children are being exposed to danger and the risk of TB,” confesses Shadrick Lunduka-Magombo, an inspector at the ministry of labor.
Echoing Lunduka-Magombo Mphatso Kapokosa, an inspector at the ministry of mines says commits to act on the observation.
“This has also come to our attention and it’s something we won’t tolerate. We can’t continue to expose our children to danger or the risk of such diseases as TB,” says Kapokosa.
That child labor continues; remains no secret at all … and so; the nation waits for the action to tame any practice with the potential to deter the fight against Tuberculosis.