[New post] Coal workers and their black lungs: climate change, indoor air pollution, and Chinese pneumoconiosis patients
janehehwj posted: " By Jane He The first time I knew the name of pneumoconiosis was at the end of 2019, because I watched the documentary "Miners, Groom, Pneumoconiosis" produced by independent director Mr. Jiang Nengjie. The director was born in a relatively poor city i"
The first time I knew the name of pneumoconiosis was at the end of 2019, because I watched the documentary "Miners, Groom, Pneumoconiosis" produced by independent director Mr. Jiang Nengjie. The director was born in a relatively poor city in China. The vast majority of people do not have access to education and can only engage in basic manual labor, such as construction workers, miners, and so on. Director Jiang Nengjie's original intention of filming this documentary was to record the difficult lives of his folks as miners, but in the process of filming, he discovered that many miners are very likely to suffer from a name due to lack of protective measures. "Pneumoconiosis" is an occupational disease. Therefore, he shifted the focus of the documentary to the poor working environment and lack of protective measures for miners, as well as their plight of difficulty in getting rescue after suffering from the occupational disease of pneumoconiosis (Jiang). Unfortunately, due to the lack of commerciality of this documentary and no investment from the publisher, the only channels for viewing this film are cloud platforms in China. This film, which cannot be watched through proper channels, seems to form a mutual portrayal of the situation of these pneumoconiosis patients: they are all neglected by society.
According to the "Statistical Bulletin of Chinese Health Development in 2018" issued by the Department of Planning, Development and Information Technology of the National Health Commission, a total of 23,497 new cases of various occupational diseases and 19,468 cases of occupational pneumoconiosis were reported nationwide in 2018, accounting for the total number of new occupational diseases of 82.9%. As of the end of 2018, a total of 975,000 cases of occupational diseases have been reported in my country, including 873,000 cases of occupational pneumoconiosis, accounting for about 90% of the total number of reported cases of occupational diseases (NHC). Due to China's current social structure, the main labor force (ie, the main source of income) of Chinese households is still male. Therefore, if the main labor force in the family suffers from pneumoconiosis, it means that the main source of income for the entire family will disappear, and the life of the entire family will be unsustainable. This standpoint can be proven by Love Save Pneumoconiosis's Survey Report on Migrant Workers with Pneumoconiosis in China (2019): In the 2019 survey, a total of 1930 valid questionnaires were collected. According to the survey results, the oldest pneumoconiosis farmer is 83 years old and the youngest is 32 years old, with an average age of 52.94 years. The middle-aged and middle-aged aged 46-55 accounted for 47.82% of the total. Among them, male patients with pneumoconiosis accounted for 99.19%, and there were only 14 female patients. In addition, the survey results showed that married people accounted for the vast majority (87%) of pneumoconiosis farmers, and the total number of people in their families averaged 4.6 (Love Save Pneumoconiosis). Therefore, the vast majority of patients with pneumoconiosis need to bear the obligation of caring for the elderly and children at the same time; when suffering from pneumoconiosis without a stable source of income, they are under very heavy financial pressure.
The biggest challenge facing Chinese pneumoconiosis patients is economic pressure, because income directly affects whether they can receive follow-up treatment and whether they can continue to survive. However, most patients with pneumoconiosis know that they cannot get financial compensation in time when they are diagnosed with pneumoconiosis, mainly for the following three reasons. First, most of the factories where they work are irregular, and some patients have not even signed a formal labor agreement. Therefore, when they were diagnosed with pneumoconiosis, there was no legal document to support them in obtaining compensation. Second, although the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis is not complicated, the process of providing occupational disease identification is more complicated (how to prove that workers' pneumoconiosis is caused by their work.) These vague identification conditions make it impossible for many patients with pneumoconiosis. Occupational disease identification report to claim compensation. Third, the Chinese government's active subsidies for patients with pneumoconiosis are still insufficient. Although the government continues to introduce policies, such as reimbursement of treatment costs for patients with pneumoconiosis and low-income insurance for patients with pneumoconiosis, many measures cannot be implemented locally (Wen).
At present, the Chinese government has proposed the following measures for the prevention and treatment of pneumoconiosis: popularize science among workers in key industries, and publicize the hazards and protection methods of pneumoconiosis. Effective pneumoconiosis treatment drugs are included in work-related injury insurance, and all patients who have purchased insurance can receive preferential treatment or even free treatment. Pneumoconiosis patients are included in the list of assistance through China's targeted poverty alleviation policies, and they can enjoy priority in financial support such as medical subsidies and work-related injury subsidies (NHC).
National Health Commission (NHC). "Letter on Reply to Proposal No. 4835 (No. 266 for Cultural Propaganda) at the Third Session of the Thirteenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference." 25 January 2021, http://www.nhc.gov.cn/wjw/tia/202101/507609da698f4f349f8fa29b4d1cd1d6.shtml
Wen, Mei. ""China's Pneumoconiosis Migrant Workers Survey Report (2019)" released. Ten provinces survey: nearly 40% of pneumoconiosis peasants enjoy the policy of establishing and registering poor households." Gongyi, 26 February 2020, Philanthropy Times, http://www.gongyishibao.com/html/gongyizixun/18345.html
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