WALVIS BAY CORRIDOR GROUP LEADS THE WAY
In observance of the National HIV Testing day on the 20 May 2010, the Walvis Bay Corridor Group is proud to have joined the entire nation and supported the day by mobilizing transport workers to visit New Start Centres and other testing points to go out and take the HIV test. Leading by example, was the Group’s CEO, Mr Johny M. Smith, who took the voluntary counseling and testing for HIV at the New Start Centre, in an effort to raise awareness of the importance of getting tested and to encourage other prominent leaders within the Namibian Transport sector to follow suit and also encourage their employees to go for HIV testing. According to Mr. Smith, “Knowing your HIV status earlier gives you an opportunity to adjust your lifestyle accordingly. It can also help those who test positive to obtain immediate care, the necessary treatment and support to help them stay healthy longer, with the aim of protecting themselves, their partners and their families.” The transport sector represents the most mobile segment among the population, and as a result it is perceived to have a higher HIV/AIDS prevalence rate than the general public. The fact that they are frequently away from their homes and families makes them even more vulnerable to HIV infection as their sexual needs are often met while on the road, because of the nature of their work. The works performed by this population are of critical importance to the development of any given country’s economy. The WBCG HIV/AIDS Help Desk has achieved various milestones, which includes the launch of a Group Workplace Policy for transport companies in 2007, the Truckers Health and Information Toolkit that aims at equipping the truck drivers with relevant information on HIV/AIDS and related issues and First Aid materials to use while on the road. The Help Desk became the sole beneficiary of the “Driving for Change Training Toolkit on HIV/AIDS for the transport sector in SADC, whereby training on the utilization of the toolkit was conducted in Switzerland, Geneva in 2008. In an effort to secure management commitment to implement workplace programmes, the help desk signed Workplace Programme Development Agreements with (6) transport companies; over 2500 employees including truck drivers were reached with HIV/AIDS – Wellness related information through on-site awareness sessions and VCT campaigns during the past two years; the American Cultural Centre formed a partnership and as a result donated 500 Namibia Live CDs with various HIV/AIDS messages for truck drivers to listen while on the road. The help desk also conducted backstopping missions to all member companies to provide support in terms of monitoring and evaluation of Workplace Interventions, to mention but a few. To further complement the activities of the Help Desk, a wellness center has been strategically placed in the industrial area of Walvis Bay, near the port to attend to the health needs of the truck drivers, commercial sex workers and the general community around, which focuses on HIV/AIDS and related issues and provides general primary health care for free, including free counseling services. The project is currently in the process of soliciting and securing resources that will enable it to scale up most of these activities in order to reach out to most at risk populations and eventually reduce new infections amongst the most at risk populations (MARPS). The impact of HIV/AIDS is taking its’ toll on the transport sector in Namibia, but moreover in Africa, which, with this in mind, the Walvis Bay Corridor Group, through its HIV/AIDS Help Desk is building a very strong foundation which requires everyone’s support in order for countries which traverse along the Walvis Bay Corridors to successfully defeat the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
