Strategy in place to educate

FleetWatch, in partnership with Engen, has finalised a strategy to conduct monthly workshops for the trucking industry aimed mainly at educating management but also drivers on the issue of HIV/AIDS writes Patrick O'Leary

"We realised some time ago that the industry has to urgently move on from just handing out condoms," says Lorinda Stoltz, advertising manager for FleetWatch and the person who is behind the FleetWatch/Engen drive to educate the industry. "We also realised that we have to reach the ranks of management in trucking companies if long-term action plans are to be effective."

Stoltz talks about moving 'beyond awareness' and by this she means action must now move beyond merely dealing with aspects such as the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS. "Certainly there is still a need for this among drivers but in terms of management, we need to focus on strategies for company survival."

With this in mind, FleetWatch approached Sharon White of Aids Education and Training cc who has been conducting training on HIV/AIDS for many years. She also knows the transport industry well having worked for Cargo Carriers for a number of years before going out on her own into her current field. She has conducted HIV/AIDS training in the trucking industry - as well as the mining and other industry sectors.

Sharon and her partner, Ian Harebottle, have agreed to conduct the management workshops as well as, through an associate, some of the driver workshops. We have also arranged with Trucking Against Aids to conduct workshops for truck drivers where trainer Justice Moeketsi will be presenting.

FleetWatch, which played a major role in the formation of Trucking Against Aids when Mac Maharaj was Minister of Transport, recognises the fine work this organisation has done with drivers out on the road. And moving out onto the road to reach the drivers has been an absolute necessity as transport companies really battle to gather drivers together at one time for workshops. The nature of the work prevents this.

However, as mentioned, the sector not being reached is management and the FleetWatch/Engen workshops are aimed at plugging this gap.

Bearing all this in mind, two workshops modules have been structured. The one - for drivers -focusses on 'Awareness and Information' while the other - for top management - focusses on 'Beyond Awareness'. In the latter module, subjects will include, among others:

• How to establish, implement and maintain policies.
• How to assess company status in terms of workforce depletion, financial loss, etc;
• How to strategise for company survival.
• Effective Peer Educator training.
• Living with AIDS

The module aimed at drivers deals with subjects such as:

• What is an STD, symptoms of various STDs
• The link between STDs and HIV/AIDS
• The link between HIV/AIDS and Cholera, TB, Malaria etc.
• The safe use of condoms
• Details of help organisations in particular areas

And here's more good news. Apart from providing the time, venue and refreshments, there is no cost to companies for hosting such workshops - which at tops should last around two hours.

On this point, I would like to pay tribute to Engen for its willingness to become involved with FleetWatch in this project. Without the partnership of Engen, it would never have got off the ground and we lift our hats to Engen for displaying such commendable corporate citizenship towards the trucking industry.

For more information on all this, please contact Lorinda Stoltz at FleetWatch on

Tel:
(011) 794-2490

or write to her at:
P. O. Box 3097
Honeydew
2040

or email her on:
lorinda@fleetwatch.co.za

Don't wait any longer. The roots were long ago planted for the big crunch - and it could wipe out your business. Consider this quote from a document titled 'The Impending Disaster' published by Love Life. "Six to ten million South Africans could die of AIDS in the next 10 to 15 years. This is certainly the greatest catastrophe South Africa has ever confronted."

The report indicates that although it is too late to turn around the epidemic, it is still possible to reduce its duration and impact. That is, of course, if you get off your butt and do something.

And here's another bit of chilling information. "At the present rate of infection, one in two South Africans under the age of 15 is expected to die of AIDS-related causes in the next 10 years." This is an extract from an article in the March 2, 2001 edition of the Sunday Times. It was headed 'Be Afraid. Be very Afraid'.

Based on these two reports, apart from the current workforce being depleted, it seems the industry's future workforce is also being wiped out. I agree with that Sunday Times headline: 'Be Afraid. Be very Afraid.'