We would like to share on the Road Safety Blog the Arrive Alive website message on World Aids Day:
HIV/ Aids a significant threat to Road Safety
Are you one of those who feel safe from the threat of HIV / Aids? Do you believe that your own responsible sexual behaviour protects you from the disease and that this threat does not concern you? Do you see the impact of this disease only as a risk to sexually irresponsible people?
Wrong!! HIV / Aids also affect you and me!
A United Nations report revealed that more than three-quarters of Aids-related deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa is now officially the country with the highest prevalence of HIV in the world! The World Health Organization has found that unsafe sex is linked to one in five deaths in women between the ages of 15 and 44. According to the WHO global study of women’s health, HIV/Aids is the leading cause of disease and death worldwide among women in this age group.
But how does this impact on me in Southern Africa?
The 1st of December is World Aids Day and we need not only to remember the victims but also reflect on the dangers posed by HIV / Aids! According to figures published in The Lancet medical journal, South Africa is carrying a huge part of the global Aids burden. It has been revealed that South Africa is 0.7 percent of the world population, but is carrying 17 percent of its HIV/Aids burden. When compared to the global average of HIV/Aids, the country is 23 times the global average!
The Department of Transport has recognized the health of drivers as an important element of road safety. Driving is a serious responsibility with physical and mental abilities impacting on the driving abilities of drivers. The National Department of Transport, in partnership with the Swedish National Road Administration ( SWEROAD) have in the past few years focused on many aspects of road safety, including the importance of the link between driver health and road safety.
A National Policy Dialogue on HIV and Aids and Impact Mitigation in the Transport Sector confirmed that road safety authorities are keeping a close eye on this chronic disease. Although limited empirical evidence is available to prove the impact of HIV/AIDS on road safety – this link certainly exists. HIV Positive drivers suffer from aids related symptoms such as fatigue, loss of concentration and weakness from severe wasting. When negative effects of anti-retroviral treatments like dizziness and nausea are added it becomes evident that road safety will be compromised.
What is the relationship between Road Safety & HIV/ Aids?
These are a few of these important aspects to consider in Southern Africa:
• The demand in transport services and infrastructure in the transport sector especially in the SADC region is fuelling various economic activities some of which are leading factors in causing and spreading HIV & Aids.
• An increased movement of people across borders at any given time means that there is a huge demand for transport facilities. Also the countries in Sub- Saharan Africa have maintained significant trade in the region thus further promoting inter-country migration.
• Within South Africa there have been huge population movements in the past 50 years or so.
• Travelling has always been accommodative of new experiences, including diseases. This transport networking in the SADC region is a fertile ground for the spread of HIV/Aids.
• Owing to the mobility of its workforce, the transport sector is among sectors adversely affected by the HIV & Aids scourge.
• It is recognized that mobility may lead to increased opportunities for sexual activity with new partners and thus put people at risk of HIV infection. A study has revealed that 46% of the transport companies surveyed reported that profitability has already been affected by HIV & Aids and 40% of transport companies that responded to the questionnaire indicated that the virus has led to a loss of experience and crucial skills in their companies.
What are the Transport Sector objectives in addressing HIV/ Aids?
• The transport sector commits itself to reduce the impact of HIV & Aids in South Africa through strengthening the application of HIV & Aids workplace policies, programmes and outreach programmes.
• The main objectives are to increase and improve knowledge attitudes, beliefs and practices of transport workers.
• To mitigate the impact of HIV & Aids in workplaces through the development of HIV & Aids policies programmes outreach initiatives.
• It also aims to increase the number of companies with HIV & Aids workplace policies and programmes in the transport sector; and to improve the capacity of employers and employees associations to develop and manage HIV & Aids programmes in the transport sector.
For the Transport Sector HIV & Aids Strategic Plan to succeed, there is a need to identify key areas that will drive the interventions forward. Some of the conditions or situations that are pertinent in ensuring the success of the Strategic Plan include: the demographic situation, the socio-economic situation; the psychological situation, the political situation the institutional situation and capacity building.
Conclusion
On World Aids Day we need to recognize that it is not only the long distance truck and taxi drivers who are at risk! On the road accidents do not discriminate along profession, race, age or income! We all share the same roads and the same goal – to Arrive Alive! The healthier our drivers – the better the prognosis for road safety!
We would like to extend, on World Aids Day, a word of support to all those involved in the fight against HIV / Aids. May their efforts make a significant contribution towards road safety!
On a personal note – The next time you motivate your friends towards responsible sexual behavior – you might even contribute towards road safety!!
Also view the following sections on the Arrive Alive Road Safety Website:
• Road Safety & Health
• Sexually Transmitted Infections & HIV /Aids