MESSINA – The national Department of Health (DOH), the National Bargaining Council (NBC) and the Road Freight Association (RFA) took a giant step last Saturday when they opened a Roadside Clinic at Beitbridge outside Messina.

The opening of the project by Deputy President Jacob Zuma, Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang and provincial leaders was part of the Government’s Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Condom Week. The focus of STI/ Condom Week was to educate South Africans about the prevention and dangers of STI’s. The Roadside Clinic, the third of it’s kind in South Africa, is a result of a three-way public-private partnership between the Department of Health, the National Bargaining council and the Road Freight Association.

The clinic is aiming to address primary healthcare, and to provide STI and HIV/AIDS education within the road freight industry.

Funded and supported by the three partners, the Messina Roadside Clinic will provide primary healthcare facilities to road users, as well as treatment and education about STI’s and HIV/AIDS. The Clinic is housed in a trailer provided by the NBC and staffed by a qualified nurse. Medication and condoms are also supplied by the DOH.

Dep Pres Jacob Zuma, who is also the Chairperson of the South African National Aids Council (SANAC) said it was encouraging to see that Government commitment to fighting the spread of all STI’s, including HIV/ AIDS, is being matched by a similar commitment from the private sector. He said he was happy to interact with truck drivers, as they played an important role in the country’s economy.

“They have a crucial task of moving goods inside the country as well as into the neighboring states. The government values their contribution. We understand the challenges that truck drivers face. They are away from home for long periods and their children grow up hardly seeing their fathers. On the road they encounter language barriers, limited entertainment options and the nature of the job exposes them more to commercial sex.”

A key aspect of the STI/Condom Week campaign is combating resistance to condom use and promoting awareness and usage of free condoms available from public health outlets and other centres. “This is a vital aspect of the programme, as commercial sex workers are themselves at risk of contracting STI’s, as well as transmitting them to their clients. The idea is to empower commercial sex workers through information sharing, thus giving them the responsibility of insisting on condom use,” said Mr Herman Lemmer, Chief Executive Officer of the Road Freight Association.

Lemmer also added that although the main focus has been drivers within the industry, the project is now including commercial sex workers (CSW’s) along the national routes in Harrismith N3, Beautfort West N1 and now Beit Bridge (border post South Africa and Zimbabwe).

Research indicates that the prevention and early treatment of STI’s significantly reduces the risk of HIV infection, as someone with an STI is nine times more likely to become infected with HIV. According to the Department of Health, most STI’s can be treated easily and effectively, provided a full course of treatment is followed.

The Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang stressed that treatment for STI is available at no cost at most of the public health centres. “STI can be cured – so we urge those at risk to practise ABC: Abstain, Be Faithful and Condomise - and to seek treatment early if they notice any symptoms of infection.”