Free medical screening in the Winelands

Truck drivers on the Cape Winelands route now benefit from a permanent Trucking Wellness clinic at the Engen Winelands North 1-Stop at Joostebergvlakte, just outside Cape Town.

Truck drivers passing through Joostebergvlakte can now undergo free health screenings and counselling while refuelling and resting. The health awareness initiative is aligned to Trucking Wellness, which is a National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI) programme. It is primarily dedicated to the wellness of people employed in the Road Freight and Logistics Industry.

Engen’s Group corporate social investment manager, Mntu Nduvane, says the company is committed to health and safety in all of its operations. “Driver health and safety is a priority for us throughout the year. Education helps to remind the drivers why their health is important and how life choices impact on their well-being. This ultimately increases their health, safety and productivity.”

As the eighth Trucking Wellness clinic at an Engen Truck Stop, the clinic offers:

– HIV/Aids awareness information and behaviour change communication and materials;
– Voluntary HIV counselling and testing;
– CD4 count testing;
– Enrolment onto the Wellness Fund HIV treatment programme;
– Enrolment onto the Wellness Fund chronic medication programme;
– Condom information, distribution and behaviour-change communication;
– Screening, diagnosing, treatment and care of sexually transmitted infections (STIs);
– Broader health-awareness information and behaviour-change communication;
– Health screening tests;
– Primary healthcare;
– Information and referrals for medical male circumcision;
– Tuberculosis (TB) screening, diagnosis, treatment and care; and
– Referrals to appropriate healthcare facilities for further investigations, treatment and care.

Project manager for Trucking Wellness, Tertius Wessels, says: “It is remarkable to see the increase in the number of individuals using the services we provide in conjunction with Engen year-on-year. This is a clear indication that this intervention is making a difference to the well-being of road-freight industry personnel.”

Wellness Clinics are available at the following Engen Truck Stop sites:

· East London
· Kokstad
· Komatipoort
· Musina
· Harrismith
· Beaufort West
· Gone South (Port Elizabeth)
· Winelands 1-Stop North