From Nature; To Nature

Source: Natural Diamond Council (NDC)

2022-02-09

For centuries, healers have believed that natural diamonds can promote human physical and mental health. Today, natural diamonds bring you much more than that.

Natural diamond industry helps fight COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, the natural diamond industry was also actively taking action to provide livelihoods for communities in lockdown and quarantine. Globally, natural diamond companies such as ALROSA, Lucara Diamond, Petra Diamonds and De Beers Group also collaborate with local partners, work together to distribute food, water and hygiene supplies to family members who are staying at home.

De Beers has also procured PCR testing equipment for Botswana, Namibia and South Africa, and created laboratories to analyze the tests, which can help speed up diagnosis and curb the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak.

In addition, the natural diamond industry has financed the construction of hospitals in remote regions of the world, such as the small Yakut village of Riganska on the banks of the Lena River in Russia. There are only 3,000 residents there. Due to the lack of complete infrastructure, they must travel back and forth to hospitals hundreds of kilometers away to receive standardized medical services. The new hospital invested by ALROSA Group of US$6 million has improved the situation.

Zhiganskaya Central Regional Hospital.
Photo source: ALROSA Group

The Zhiganskaya Central Regional Hospital expanded the ranks of doctors and nurses, added new departments, and installed the most latest advanced equipment. The hospital now has pediatricsd, treatment rooms, obstetrics center, gynecologists -and various types of surgical care.

Natural diamond mining has not only brought local hospitals such as Jiganskaya, but has also created employment opportunities in the health care industry as a whole. Tsaone Sekanami, senior medical officer at Jwaneng Mine Hospital in Botswana, says he has his current job because of the growth of the natural diamond industry. Owned by natural diamond mining company Debswana, the hospital sees around 90,000 patients each year, most of whom are Debswana employees and contractors, and 40 percent are local villagers. "

Doctor at the Jowaneng Mining District Hospital.
Photo source: De Beers Group

Every year, the expenses of the Jwaneng Hospital are high as US$3.6 million, all of which are provided by Debswana, which is able to serve about 30,000 local people. An estimated 60 percent of patients who come to the hospital are not Jwaneng Mine employees or their families.

Natural diamond industry helps to prevent disease

Jacques Oosthuyzen is the Director of Occupational Health and Hygiene at Petra Diamonds, South Africa. Since he joined the company in 2011, he has been working to eliminate diseases that can endanger the lives of Petra employees and the communities surrounding the mine.

"Every year, all employees in the mining area need to undergo a health check-up to check all indicators such as blood pressure and blood sugar. At the same time, we also do all necessary checks such as lung function tests, chest X-rays, substance tests, hearing and vision tests."

Through close cooperation with local authorities, these health checks and wellness activities have been extended to the communities surrounding the Petra Diamond Mine. Geoffrey Titi, an integrative health and wellness practitioner at Petra Diamonds, explained that the government has launched a campaign to inform surrounding communities about the health benefits supported by the mine.

Across the southern Africa, De Beers provides first-class healthcare to community members through hospitals and clinics around its mines. The company's strategic vision and goals are health-focused and committed to developing a comprehensive "Building Forever" program aimed at creating a better future that will impact local communities and residents far beyond the discovery of natural diamonds.