Our children developing anonymous illnesses and symptoms

MENGE AGNES CHOLEDI

Due to the disaster that occurred in our town on 11 September 2022, our children are facing a difficult time due to illnesses. As a mother, it is painful to live with children who are getting sick now and then. Due to the dust from the mine, our town is always covered with dust, and seasons have changed due to climate change. It now affects us as a society, especially young children because they don’t know or understand.

They are just innocent children who just want to see themselves playing as usual, now due to the toxical dust our children are getting sick every day. As a mother, during the disaster, I was still pregnant with my twins who were born before their normal time because I was scared and running that day. It led me to a hospital where I managed to give birth before their normal time, so I gave birth to my twin boys as premature babies. After when I was discharged from the hospital I went home with my small twin babies.

Mine trucks were passing the road close to our house and the dust was extremely high and heavy. I suspect that it is the one that is affecting our children, and these twins have different illnesses, so the older child is facing skin problems and their chests are not okay and the younger one is facing chest problems and they said it’s a lung infection. He was admitted for a week at the hospital, but truly speaking my child has not recovered. He is still living in that situation due to the Mine dust and also our children’s skin is concerning us a lot and needs speedy intervention.