Eight million truck drivers and twelve million helpers criss-cross the country’s highways for hours at a stretch. Belonging to different states and cities, they are away from their homes for 10-12 days to six months at a stretch. Truckers have been identified by the National AIDS Control Organization as a Bridge Population, as they are at higher risk and vulnerability of contracting infections like TB and HIV. Their nomadic lifestyle pose difficulties in TB treatment, which requires a referral for diagnostics and long-term medication. Inadequate follow-ups lead to high default rates as many of them disappear from the system
The mass media campaigns are used to convey behaviour-change messages that aim to impact and influence the public knowledge, attitudes and practices.
Engagement and CSR investment by corporates can disseminate information on TB widely to vast audiences through the use of media, such as television, radio, local media channels, traditional media, newspapers, Internet, books, posters and billboards. The corporate can adopt a district or state and implement campaigns around prominent dates like world TB day or the company’s foundation day etc
Capital Cost – INR 10 – 50 lakhs
Our 1st Healthcare Centre was established in 2000 at the transshipment hub of Delhi to spread awareness and prevent HIV/AIDS for our trucking community. This has now transformed into providing services on other emerging healthcare needs at our 32 different locations in 19 states across India. In 2017, we introduced Tuberculosis prevention programme as it usually co-exists with HIV.
Prevention is better than Cure
Each trucker is given a unique registration number, which is valid at all healthcare centers to enable access to health services across state borders. The program adheres to confidential counselling where a trained counsellor devotes his/her time, attention and skills to support the drivers/ helpers in understanding their health issues and identify and act upon solutions.
Healthcare providers counsel the truckers
Arranged near broker/transport Offices for 3-4hours a day, offering the same services as StaticClinic.
Organized in project area to provide services at the doorstep to ensure maximum outreach in a short duration of time
A large network of peer educators trained to spread awareness and enable a robust referral system across the transshipment hub
With minimal resources, adequate training and technical support, TB management was introduced successfully in ongoing health services being offered to truckers. Additional support by the Corporate TB Pledge (CTP) secretariat intensified their commitment and increased outreach. The program has been prolific, deploying creative and fun tools like street theatre, pamphlets and conversation to engage with its audience. ATF’s model facilitates continuous treatment to truckers at points of entry and exit in their journey, which is instrumental in ensuring adherence to treatment.
To cater to the high-risk population, additional interventions such as surveillance, behavior change communications, customized health service solutions tailored to their needs was made possible by this healthcare program. The recently introduced MIS Tool aids the foundation in tracking progress as well as using the data to analyze and make informed decisions for future interventions.