Challenges of practicing Occupational Health in developing countries, Zimbabwe

Introduction
Access to occupational health services the world over remains greatly challenged and constrained with a meager 10 –15% of the world’s population having access to such services. For developing countries, the proportion of the working population with access to occupational health services is less than 10%. Primary health services particularly in Africa remain constrained in the face of perennial outbreaks of infectious diseases.

Methods
In Zimbabwe, the current economic crisis has presented great challenges in the integrity of the health delivery system. The recent cholera epidemic with the associated high mortality rate demonstrated the inadequacy of the health services function in the country. Occupational health issues, which are normally overlooked, become minor issues. Fragmented pieces of legislation with some very basic components of occupational health do exist in Zimbabwe. However, these fall far short of articulating a comprehensive framework of managing workplace risks.

Results
The major challenges currently facing the development of occupational health in Zimbabwe are a result of lack of an organized Occupational Health management system and legislation in addressing Occupational Health issues. Lack of trained personnel and lack of funding have negatively constrained the development of Occupational Health. Lack of expertise at national policy level and lack of enforcement have been some of the major constraints. The actual burden of occupational diseases remains unknown due to poor occupational health surveillance systems.

Discussion
In developing countries like Zimbabwe, policy formulation that puts occupational health as part of the core function in labor and social issues as well as health issues should be adopted. The embrace of the Basic occupational health services (BOHS) concept presents a good starting framework that is cost effective and could be articulated in the context of Risk Based medical surveillance context. Capacity building and legal reforms that are targeted towards occupational health and safety issues need embrace.