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Hard-to-reach populations assisted

2022-07-28  Paheja Siririka

Hard-to-reach populations assisted

Namibian truck driver Petrus Katangolo appreciates the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG) roadside wellness clinics, which provides assistance when he falls ill while on duty.

“Whether in Oshikango or Walvis Bay, I get my services whenever I am sick or whenever I need any help. When I need condoms or to do HIV tests, I come here. What I particularly like about these types of services is getting counselling and free treatment,” he said.

The WBVG is offering wellness centres to address the health needs of hard-to-reach populations, such as sex workers, adolescents and youth, long distance truck drivers and others, using the Walvis Bay corridors through the Port of Walvis Bay in southern Africa.

It provides Pre-exposure prophylaxis, (PrEP) services, HIV counselling and testing (HCT), HIV treatment and care, hypertension/blood pressure testing, STD screening and treatment, risk reduction counselling, basic primary health care, wellness screening services, TB screening, condom distribution as well as Covid-19 vaccination services.

PrEP is the use of medications, used to prevent the spread of disease in people who have not yet been exposed to a disease-causing agent – usually a virus.

The WBCG is a public private partnership, established in 2000 as a service and facilitation centre to promote imports and exports via the Trans-Kalahari, Trans-Caprivi; Trans-Cunene and Trans-Oranje corridors.

WBCG’s wellness project manager Edward Shivute said the organisation’s health and wellness centres are set up at strategic locations along the transport corridors that are frequently used by the truck drivers and other vulnerable communities. 

“These fixed and mobile clinics offer key services, such as HIV testing, linkage to care and treatment services to ensure all HIV-positive clients are initiated on life-saving anti-retroviral treatment,” he said.

Since its establishment in 2006, the WBCG’s wellness service initiative has provided health and wellness services to over 15 000 long distance truck drivers.

Shivute said: “About 10% of these truck drivers receive life-saving HIV treatment from the WBCG clinics. In addition, and with regards to the recent outbreak of Covid-19, the operations and health issues of long-distance truck drivers have been an issue of concern, as they play an important part in the Namibian and SADC regional economic growth.”

Mozambican truck driver António Albino Matavele told New Era he appreciates the effort of the WBCG’s assistance, which provides them with the necessities and contraceptives.

“They are helping us nicely, and we are happy. They are providing us with condoms, so I am happy. I would suggest that because we are travelling to Angola most of the time, there are many mosquitoes, which transmit malaria. Maybe they can do Malaria tests,” proposed
Matavele.

Agreeing with Matavele, another truck driver said the southern region is prone to malaria due to the humidity and warmth that becomes a breeding space for the blood-sucking insects.

“They (WBCG) need to provide remedies for malaria because, here in southern Africa, it is hot – and you find mosquitoes. There comes situations when you are sick – not feeling well; you are probably showing symptoms, but there is no treatment anywhere,” he said.

psiririka@nepc.com.na


2022-07-28  Paheja Siririka

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