DoT Management Tackles HIV/AIDS Challenge

In a swift move consistent with Minister S’bu Ndebele’s proactive leadership style, KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport (DOT) management are launching internal and external initiatives to address the challenges facing transport stakeholders within and outside the Department.

Malcolm Thomas
External HIV/AIDS Facilitator

 A workplace committee has been formed with DOT union shop steward, Mr Malcolm Thomas (pictured), who is external HIV/AIDS facilitator.

Mr Thomas and the HIV/AIDS committee are passionate about Mr Ndebele’s slogan that says: "Put brakes to HIV/AIDS in transport."

He said: "We will achieve our vision through an aggressive campaign to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS amongst individuals, families and communities, especially truck and taxi drivers within our province and the country as a whole."

Mr Thomas told Igalelo that a budget had been set aside by the DOT management to focus on dealing with the HIV/AIDS pandemic within the Department as well as its stakeholders, including the taxi and freight industries.

He pointed out: "A road show that will focus on HIV/AIDS and also look at other aspects of DOT work, particularly road safety, is envisaged and if everything goes according to plan, we might launch the road shows in August.

"Through our Truck Stop Roadside Clinics, we will empower our drivers and communities, and taxi ranks will also be targeted.

"A budget has been set aside for the Employee Assistance Programme, which will include counselling and medication support to DOT staff that have been affected by the HI virus, and another allocation is for external awareness programmes amongst the DOT stakeholders," he added.

Mr Thomas explained that the DOT’s approach on the matter is informed by research that has been conducted under the supervision of well-known sociologist, Ms Tessa Marcus, who collaborated with the DOT-sponsored University of Natal’s Accident Research Centre (UNIARC).

Ms Marcus has stated that: "… the relief of fatigue and stress is implicated in the pursuit of sex, and the risk of HIV/AIDS. Together with drugs and alcohol, it is one of the primary recreational activities that are easily available to truckers within the constraints of their jobs and the conditions of the road."

"Even when truckers do not actively pursue sex when they rest, their fatigue is often compounded by sex workers for whom truck stops are active business sites. A study has shown that the disruptive presence of sex workers at truck stops has forced some truckers to stop on the roadside," Ms Marcus added.

 

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