South Africa: Putting the brakes on HIV – awareness amongst Truck Drivers
Adcock Ingram, Scania, SWHAP and Shell One Stop Join Forces to Promote Road Safety and HIV Awareness Amongst Truck Drivers – January 2014: During the month of December 2013, two of South Africa’s key challenges – road safety and HIV awareness – united under a single initiative to improve the health of those tasked with driving long hours on the road and who typically have limited access to healthcare facilities and treatment.
A road safety and wellness campaign – designed to help truck drivers improve their health – was initiated by a partnership between pharmaceutical manufacturer Adcock Ingram, Swedish truck manufacturer Scania, Swedish Workplace HIV/AIDS Programme (SWHAP) and Shell One Stop petrol stations.
Due to the high accident rates on South Africa’s roads, the campaign’s objective was to enhance the health of truck drivers through HIV/AIDS, cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure and BMI testing.
The initiative was rolled out at Shell Petrol Stations in Midrand, Bloemfontein, Middelburg, Polokwane and Harrismith on select days in December.
The campaign had the assistance of the national traffic police who helped stop truck drivers and directed them to testing stations at the Shell garages where they received information about safety issues. Participating petrol stations were clearly identified with bright red telesophic banners encouraging drivers to ‘Put the Brakes on HIV’, ‘Stop and Take the Test’, ‘Do it for a Day. Do it for Life’ and ‘Adcock Ingram Rethink HIV’.
Besides receiving information on safety issues, Scania technicians were on-site at participating petrol stations to run a 20-point check on vehicles, conducting small repairs free of charge. Drivers of vehicles in a bad state of repair were advised to return to their depots as soon as possible so that they could duly be overhauled.
Nurses, supplied by Reality wellness group, manned the testing stations at which the truck drivers were screened. The campaign also included a short information session during which drivers received information about health, wellness and road safety.
Dr Eric Hefer, member of the adult treatment guideline committee for the SA HIV Clinicians Society, says because of mobility, the trucking industry has been identified as a high-risk sector for HIV infection. “We realise that truck drivers are a very vulnerable segment of the population and the knock-on effect is that if we treat and detect HIV infected individuals and put them on treatment, we protect their sexual partners because treatment is prevention. This is one way to start making a difference in addressing the spread of the HIV pandemic,” he says.
Adcock Ingram, which manufactures HIV anti-retrovirals locally and supplies HIV test kits, plays a major role in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
“We are passionate about initiatives such as these which support Adcock Ingram’s strong community-driven focus. Via this campaign, accurate data on the health of truck drivers can be obtained, allowing for confidential follow-up care and monitoring – via cell phone communication and SMS. But perhaps most important, we will be able to help HIV infected drivers access and initiate ARV (Anti-retroviral) treatment,” says Luella Naidoo, head of Adcock Ingram’s ARV division.
At present, Adcock Ingram has the lowest priced Fixed Dose Combination ARV on the market.
“With a 96 % efficacy rate, ARV treatment has been shown to be the most effective intervention against the spread of infection – better than condoms, circumcision and vaccinations. We therefore need to focus on assisting the industry so that access to HIV testing and ARV treatment become top priorities,” says Dr Hefer.
Mr Steen Gram, after sales director of Scania South Africa says the foundational focus for road safety should begin with the driver. “The driver can influence all of the factors concerning safety and the environment. South Africa faces particular challenges around viral and HIV-related diseases. If a driver is in a fatigue situation, safety is compromised. S/he is handling a highly sophisticated vehicle and in order for her/him to gain maximum output from this technology, the driver needs to be well trained, alert and in good health,” he says.
“In our experience with such campaigns, most truck drivers voluntarily sign up for the testing and screening and show keen interest in the initiative to promote wellness and road safety,” says Gram.
Swedish Workplace HIV/AIDS Programme (SWHAP), also a partner in the truck driver road safety and HIV awareness initiative, says offering testing is the first step in curbing HIV infection. SWHAP assists Swedish-based companies working in sub-Saharan Africa. Via its HIV/AIDS workplace programmes, up to 87 % of employees working for Swedish-based companies in sub-Saharan Africa, know their HIV status.
According to Jacob Graaff, SWHAP senior advisor: South Africa: “In most of the companies in which we are active, not a single HIV positive employee has passed away. In fact, they are still very productive.”
“A vast percentage of goods in this country are moved by road and the road freight industry is of great economic importance, so we need to keep those skilled people and their abilities fully efficient and the industry economically viable. For this reason, this innovative wellness and road safety campaign is thoroughly laudable,” he says.
