IMSS program presented in Coahuila to monitor the health of miners

Leopold Ramos

Correspondent

Newspaper La Jornada
Saturday May 14, 2022, p. 9

Torreón, Coah., To strengthen the preventive health and quality of life of workers, particularly miners, the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) presented the Safe and Healthy Work Environments Program, which will be launched with the collaboration of the government of Coahuila.

Zoé Robledo, general director of the institute, indicated that the objective is for mine workers to have access to an effective and quality health system by the agency, which will impact companies with healthier and better performing employees.

He ruled out that with the program, the IMSS plans to go against businessmen for possible violations of the law on health and social security.

It is based on trust; punitive measures are not sought; It is not about threatening inspections, with closures. It has to do with trust.

The project seeks to reduce the negative impact of diseases and chronic illnesses of workers, in this case of mining, and later the rest of the entity’s productive activities will be integrated.

According to the governor of Coahuila, Miguel Ángel Riquelme Solís, there will be greater coordination with the federal government to expand health coverage. We ratify our willingness to generate greater communication and coordination between workers, businessmen and authorities of the three levels of governmenthe indicated.

According to IMSS data, in Coahuila there are 11,400 mining workers. Those who go to the IMSS generally do so for fractures, cervical sprains, bruises and respiratory diseases, typical of exposure to underground gases.

At the Metals Museum, the president of the Mining Chamber of Mexico (Camimex), José Jaime Gutiérrez, assured that the sector is committed to promoting association with the strategy by affiliated companies, because the health of the collaborators is a responsibility that we all have.

In turn, the president of the Confederation of Industrial Chambers of the United Mexican States (Concamin), José Antonio Abugaber, spoke out for promoting that the program be part of the strategy of a greater number of chambers and associations, for the benefit of workers.