Engen Driver Wellness campaign for Kimberley

Back left: Cornelius Visser (Engen – Commercial Sales), Nurse Xolele Mokwana (EBOTSE Group), Nurse Rhita Nkosi (EBOTTSE Group), \Paul Westcott (Engen regional commercial sales manager) and Pumeza Ntisana (Engen CSI co-ordinator). Front left: Jody van Wyk (Kimberley Engen manager), Shadrack Masinga (driver) and Monelo Nisele (truck driver).

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Now in its third year the Driver Wellness campaign is an annual initiative by Engen aimed at educating long distance truck drivers about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle whilst on the road, servicing the economy. The campaign kicked off in Kimberley earlier this month and will have been to 17 Engen sites by the end of October 2013.

Increasing drivers screened by 30%

Drivers get an opportunity to go for free voluntary screening in mobile clinics by qualified nurses and councillors for high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, tuberculosis, BMI (Body Mass Index) and HIV/AIDS. The programme also provides counselling and a referral service where required. In 2012, 841 drivers presented themselves for screening compared to 400 in 2011. This year the intention is to increase the number of drivers screening by 30%.

"We are pleased to continue playing a role in informing, educating and raising awareness about the impact of health issues and chronic diseases on road safety. The Driver Wellness initiative is aimed at raising awareness around health issues that have a direct impact on road safety, by helping drivers to manage their wellness better. We believe initiatives such as these can make a real difference to road safety in the long run and encourage a healthy lifestyle change in professional drivers," says Khanyisa Balfour, groups corporate social investment manager for Engen.

Often the sole breadwinners

Northern Cape Health MEC Mxolisi Sokatsha said: "Drivers are often the sole breadwinners of their families and spend most of their time on the road away from home travelling across the country. Their health and wellness is of great importance to their families, communities and the economy as a whole." Sokatsha thanked Engen for its continued support in keeping truck drivers well and on the road.

The Kimberley truck stop is one of many around the country where drivers rest overnight after spending long hours on the road during the day. The campaign is set to visit most provinces including Belfast in Mpumalanga and Kokstad in KwaZulu-Natal in the coming month.