Road Accident Fund rolls out wellness programme
According to RAF's Ernest Nkuna, the Driver Wellness Programme focuses on long-distance truck drivers as well as those who carry a large number of commuters such as taxis and buses.
The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is on the South Coast with its Mobile Bus and Driver Wellness Programme.
According to the RAF’s Ernest Nkuna, the Driver Wellness Programme focuses on long-distance truck drivers as well as those who carry a large number of commuters such as taxis and buses.
Nkuna said this is in an attempt to reduce accidents caused by driver fatigue and other health-related matters.
The programme started on Monday this week at the Port Shepstone Taxi Rank, on Tuesday it was at the Margate Taxi Rank, and on Wednesday it was held at the Hibberdene Taxi Rank.
This Thursday (October 19), the programme was at the Izongolweni Taxi Rank and on Friday at the Port Shepstone Taxi Rank.
“Statistics show commercial trucks, taxis, buses and their drivers pose a greater risk and are prone to mass accidents, which is a liability for the RAF. To mitigate this, the RAF facilitated a wellness bus with the necessary equipment to test vitals like high blood pressure, diabetes, eyesight, etc. The mobile clinic will have a dispensing nurse and an optometrist to prescribe driving glasses on the spot at no cost to the beneficiaries,” said Nkuna.
He added that the initiative, which has been funded through RAF Corporate Social Responsibility, is in partnership with a non-governmental organisation, the Health Foundation of South Africa (HFSA).
He said the HFSA has co-opted Africa Mobility Solutions for technology and mobility support in partnership with Guud Mobility.
Nkuna said the project has created three temporary jobs for the dispensing nurse, optometrist and testing operator.
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