This study determines the prevalence of types of sicknesses and diseases
affecting patients visiting health service facilities and the available health
services within the Selebi Phikwe Ni-Cu mine area, Botswana. Through the
administration of questionnaires and structured questions, attempts were made
to establish and verify the existing human health problems at the study area by
focusing on respiratory tract related symptoms of sicknesses and diseases. With
the aid of statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), interpreted results from
respondents indicated that all the health service providers served patients
suffering from headaches, persistent coughing, chest pains, lower abdominal
pains, pain when passing out urine, genital discharge and diarrhea. Seventy one
percent of the health service providers indicated that their patients suffered
from body weakness, 86 % indicated that they had patients who suffered from
recent loss of body weight, and another 86 % pointed out that their patients had
influenza/common cold. Other health complaints reported included unusual
spitting, shortness of breath, palpitations, nausea/vomiting, diarrhoea, and
constipation. Moreover the health service providers indicated that they had
patients who suffered from significant illnesses of which some passed away.
However if there are lacking facilities, patients are referred to bigger health
service providers in the country. The findings of the study do not in general
depict demarcating differences of health status of residents of the study area to
those of the control site. A need therefore for further investigations to be
conducted to establish relations of mining activities to human health at Selebi
Phikwe is called for.