Transport MMC launches mobile health services at Mabopane station
“Our taxi drivers are at the heart of public transport in the city and we have to make sure that they are healthy and well.”
Roads and transport MMC Sheila Senkubuge promoted mobile health services for taxi drivers at the Mabopane taxi rank on Friday.
“Our taxi drivers are at the heart of public transport in the city and we have to make sure that they are healthy and well,” she said.
“If they are well, our commuters will be well as well.”
“I’m very pleased to announce that from today mobile services will be going around to different taxi ranks in our city continuously partnering with Impilo Health Services, the taxi industry and TUT.”
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Senkubuge thanked the work that had been done by the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT).
“We can’t say thank you enough to the team from TUT. The work that you have done, the research that you are doing, for being here. To the students: we know it is part of your learning modules, but we appreciate what you doing for our brothers by making sure that everyone is safe and healthy.”
She encouraged all taxi drivers to undergo screenings, check-ups and have their blood pressure taken.
“We must make sure that health care is accessible – not only for people who are able to go to clinics. We know that our drivers are on the road every day, they do not have a chance to go to the clinic. With this initiative, we want to make sure our taxi drivers are taken well care of, even when they are on the road.”
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Coordinator and clinical nurse Suzan Mathikhi said research found those taxi drivers had chronic illnesses such as hypertension and sugar diabetes. However, they could not go to clinics because of their busy schedules.
“We also want health services to be accessible to them as well.”
Mathikhi said taxi operators were excited about this initiative.
It was the first time that anyone were concerned about their health like this, she said.
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