OHEAP

Occupational Health Education and Awareness Programme.

The mining industry, through the Chamber of Mines of Namibia, runs an Occupational Health Education and Awareness Programme (OHEAP) which targets all the mining communities as well as other interested organisations and companies with specific emphasis on HIV/AIDS.For the mining industry, workplace health promotion has become imperative since there is an undeniable link between a healthy workforce and healthy production. The only way to obtain that is through the necessary education, information and psychosocial support of the workers, their families and the surrounding.

Objectives

• To increase knowledge on occupational health issues through peer education awareness programmes and activities.
• To promote safer sex through training in behaviour change and self-development issues, preventative-promotive counselling and increased availability and accessibility of condoms.
• To target other social problems and lifestyles that can put people and production at risk.

Historical Background and Overview

The OHEAP programme originated at Namdeb as the Oranjemund Health Education Project, which was aimed at dealing proactively with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. As a result of the progress made in the programme, it was expanded to other mines and adopted by the Chamber of Mines of Namibia.

Currently programme sponsorship has been taken over by Okorusu Fluorspar mine through its parent company Solvay and an additional sponsorship by USAID through Family Health International. The programme has also expanded to other non-mining companies.

Components of the OHEAP Programme.

• Workplace policy and programme.
• Employee education.
• Family education.
• Community education.
• OHEAP Services.
• Presentations to management and other interested groups.
• Assisting with HIV/AIDS policy development and programme implementation.
• Training of Peer Educators.
• Monitoring and evaluation of Peer Education activities.
• Counselling programme.
• Consultation, information and guidance on health matters including TB, malaria, drug and alcohol abuse.
• Awareness programme and information sessions for workers.

For more information on OHEAP contact: Ms Theo Machoko

To top