Informal workers in Burkina Faso face significant health risks due to a lack of medical follow-up. According to Dr Chrystel Sanou Ouédraogo, director of the Occupational Health Office (OST), less than 10% of informal workers receive medical attention. The OST is responsible for protecting workers' health, but its reach is limited, particularly in the informal sector. Dr Sanou Ouédraogo stated that the OST's role is preventative, focusing on primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.
The OST's prevention efforts include visits to workplaces, information sessions, and education on good practices. The office also provides vaccinations and training on health and safety. However, these efforts are hindered by limited resources and a lack of awareness among informal workers. The Code du travail includes informal workers in its scope, but in practice, it is challenging to implement. As a result, many informal workers are not receiving the medical attention they need.
Informal workers in Burkina Faso are exposed to various health risks, including chemical, physical, biological, and psychosocial risks. Workers in the informal sector, such as mechanics, painters, and coiffeurs, are exposed to hazardous substances like hydrocarbures, solvents, and products défrisants. They often do not use protective equipment, increasing their risk of injury or illness.
Certain categories of informal workers are particularly vulnerable to work-related illnesses. These include orpailleurs, artisans miniers, and workers in the carrières, who are exposed to toxic substances like mercury, cyanure, and silice. Mechanics and soudeurs are also at risk of surdité, atteintes pulmonaires, and brûlures oculaires. Teinturières, coiffeurs, and coiffeuses are exposed to dermatoses and asthme due to chemical products.
The OST's Dr Sanou Ouédraogo emphasized that the informal sector is vast, with over 90% of workers employed in this sector. However, the OST only follows up with less than 10% of these workers. The main challenges are limited resources, lack of awareness, and the dispersed nature of informal workers.
To address these challenges, the OST needs to increase its outreach and engagement with informal workers. This includes raising awareness about the importance of medical follow-up and providing accessible health services. The government also needs to strengthen its policies and implementation to support informal workers' health and safety.
The situation highlights the need for improved policies and strategies to protect informal workers' health. The government, in collaboration with organizations like the OST, must work to increase access to medical follow-up and health services for informal workers. This will require a concerted effort to address the challenges and limitations faced by the OST and other stakeholders.
Key points
- Informal workers in Burkina Faso face significant health risks due to limited access to medical follow-up.
- The Occupational Health Office (OST) needs to increase its outreach and engagement with informal workers to provide accessible health services.
- The government must strengthen its policies and implementation to support informal workers' health and safety.
