Aids trucking initiative gets R5.6m sponsorship

Kevin Mayhew THE SWEDISH International Development Agency (Sida) last week announced a R5.6m sponsorship for Trucking Against Aids. The sponsorship will assist in funding the expansion of the wellness centre network along South Africa’s main transport routes. It will also help improve communications about its objectives to the various target markets such as drivers, potential sponsors, trucking companies and the like. The chairman of the transport industry National Bargaining Council’s HIV/Aids committee, Louie Hollander, said the plan was to expand the wellness network by a further six permanent sites along major routes as well as fund five mobile clinics. It is hoped that the clinics can be funded locally after the three years. Already there are nine operational clinics that aim to detect and help treat sexually transmitted infections as well as educate drivers and sex workers. It is a joint private enterprise and provincial government initiative.