Mobile clinic for taxi drivers
Tshwane metro introduced a mobile clinic services at the Belle Ombre taxi rank on Tuesday morning.
Tshwane metro introduced mobile clinic services for taxi drivers on Wednesday morning at the Belle Ombre taxi rank in Pretoria Central.
MMC for Health and Transport Sheila Lynn Senkubuge said the introduction of the services at the taxi rank was done to accommodate taxi drivers.
“We know that taxi drivers have very hectic schedules and often don’t get the time to go to a doctor or clinic when they are not feeling well due to the nature of their job. We want to ensure that all taxi drivers have access to the health care services that the country provides,” said Senkubuge.
The metro said this was done to ensure that the taxi industry was valued for its contribution to the society.
“Since the declaration of October as transport month by the national cabinet we know that taxi drivers have been sidelined for many years and we are here to restore their dignity and ensure they are valued. If we fail to address the needs of the taxi industry we will be undermining the human capital of this essential industry which supports our economy,” she said.
Senkubuge said although the Belle Ombre Taxi rank will be the only one with health services, the roll-out to other taxi ranks will take place in the near future.
“We have already set our sights on ensuring that the Bosman taxi rank has its own mobile clinic in the near future. All the drivers from different ranks are encouraged to make use of this station (Belle Ombre) for now while the roll-out to other ranks get introduced,” said Senkubuge.
The mobile services will be staffed with nurses and stocked with medication. Taxi drivers promised to make use of the clinic.
“We want to guarantee the MMC that our members will use this services on a daily basis. We appreciate what the metro has done for us and we will ensure that the clinics run smoothly,” said a representative of taxi drivers and owners Piet Mahlangu.
Mahlangu also promised to ensure that the health of taxi drivers would be satisfactory at all time.
“These services will give our drivers an opportunity to get tested for HIV/AIDS, sugar diabetes and TB, to name but a few. No driver will have any health issues when there is a clinic right in front of them,” he said.
Ward councillor Elmarie Linde said the services was an indication that the city was delivering on its election promises.
“We did say during the campaign period that if we are given an opportunity we are going to change the lives of the people of Tshwane and that is exactly what we are doing with this project. There are many others like this one that are centered on changing the lives of the ordinary people for the better,” said Linde.
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