Taxis associations tackle lifestyle diseases
JOBURG - The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has taken the lead with an innovation that could bring health care facilities to all South Africans.
It is estimated that 19 million commuters use taxis on a daily basis. According to Santaco, these people rarely have the opportunity to go to a clinic for regular check-ups. Because of this, the taxi association partnered with Taxi Choice, SA Taxi, the South African National Aids Council (Sanac) and Toyota SA to bring those commuters closer to health care through the use of mobile clinics.
The clinics will be stationed at various taxi ranks across the country.
Speaking at SA Taxi Finance Holdings on 15th Road in Midrand, Santaco president, Philip Taaibosch, said this was another initiative that would see them engaging with the community on a positive platform, in addition to their operation Hlokomela, the Sotho word for watch out, which is aimed at bettering relations between drivers and commuters and other road users.
Essentially, this is a health, lifestyle and HIV/Aids awareness drive that has been launched to coincide with Transport Month in October. The pilot project was launched in KwaZulu-Natal on 14 October.
Dr Fareed Abdullah, from Sanac, said the drive was not just about providing free HIV testing but was also meant to provide counselling services and testing for other lifestyle diseases such as diabetes.
“Detection of these can help with their management,” said Abdullah.
Is there an initiative that your organisation has undertaken? Let us know on midrandreporter@caxton.co.za
