Heart Risk Assessment for Mining Workers in Papua New Guinea. Summary Paper for Heart Assessment and Stratification

Abstract

Papua New Guinea has about seven active mining and exploration activities for minerals like gold, copper, and other minor minerals. Each is managed by different company and together employs about ten thousand workers. A fifth of this would be foreign workers. Most of the Mine workers that are screened at the Employees Health and Wellness clinics tend to have similar compounding health risks. As a result, the common diseases that are prevalent are Hypertension, Diabetic Mellitus, High Cholesterol, general Obesity (BMI>25m2/Kg) with minimal to zero level of physical exercise. Despite advice to religiously take the medications, there is noticeable lack of medication compliance, and a handful are usually under dosages.