In the stope
Getting to this point was not easy
because previously, a great deal of
stigma was associated with HIV
and TB. There was also not much
awareness about managing such
medical conditions. Many people were
afraid to test for either TB or HIV
and would end up dying because of
not taking treatment. “The nice thing
is that now, our people are much
more educated about HIV. People are
actually acknowledging that there is
this disease and they can live with it,”
she adds.
“Joining Kumba was one of
the highlights of my career,”
she says eagerly. At Kumba, Dr
Moyo-Mubayiwa worked her way
up to become a superintendent. In
her opinion, this role is strategic and
has allowed her to implement certain
changes regarding health. “When
you are actually making a difference
and putting things in place, it drives
you and keeps you going. It becomes
a passion.” One of the campaigns
she speaks passionately about is the
‘Awesome ME’ campaign, spelled
‘Oresome ME’, in keeping with the
iron ore mine weight-loss competition,
where 825 employees voluntarily
joined.
Looking ahead, there is lots more
she would like to achieve in her career.
For one, she would like to make a
greater impact in the Northern Cape
by changing people’s perception about
healthy living. She would also like
to implement recreational activities
that will encourage a healthy lifestyle.
The passionate doctor believes that
collaboration between mines could
www.miningmirror.co.za
Career milestone and looking
ahead
Dr Nothando Moyo-Mubayiwa is an occupational health
superintendent at Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen Mine.
result in a greater impact. For now,
she is happy to be influencing the
community and working with the
community to encourage healthy
living — ensuring that mine employees
report for work safely and also leave
safely. “If people are physically,
mentally, and socially healthy,
everything will move forward,” she
says. b
NOVEMBER 2018 MINING MIRROR
[35]