Affiliations: Hong Kong Workers Health Centre, Hong Kong SAR,
China | Guangdong Provincial Work Injury Rehabilitation
Resource Center, Guangdong Province, China
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Karen Lo, Hong Kong Workers' Health
Centre, Room 1429, 14/F, 87-105 Chatham Road South, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong
Kong SAR, China. Tel.: +852 2725 3996; Fax: +852 2728 6968; E-mail:
karen@hkwhc.org.hk
Abstract: Pneumoconiosis is one of the major occupational health problems in
China and increasing numbers of migrant workers suffered from this occupational
disease after working in a dusty environment for few years. These migrant
workers panicked after being diagnosed as suffering from pneumoconiosis and
facing physiological disturbances including progressive dyspnea, respiratory
failure or complications like silico-tuberculosis after their return to their
rural village. This article reviews the preliminary results of a community
rehabilitation pilot project conducted in a rural village in Guizhou, one of
the provinces in southwest China. It shares the joint effort of professionals
from Guangdong Province and Hong Kong SAR on supporting the migrant workers to
manage and cope with this occupational disease. Finally, strategies including
early intervention were suggested to help migrant workers to manage the
disease. Most importantly, occupational health promotion and prevention were
urged as the measures of utmost importance in reducing the risk for migrant
workers suffering from pneumoconiosis.
Keywords: Pneumoconiosis, community rehabilitation, migrant workers
