Northern Corridor Transit Transport Coordination Authority executive secretary, John Deng, speaks during the second Transport Corridors and Health Conference in Nairobi/ HANDOUTLong working hours, fatigue, poor diet, inadequate rest and occupational exposure are impacting on the health of drivers and logistics workers along the Northern Corridor, experts now say.
This is in the wake of growing trade volumes through the Port of Mombasa and the 1,700-kilometre-long corridor, which runs from Mombasa into Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and Eastern DRC, that has increased transport needs for cargo movement.
Over 3,500 trucks move along the corridor per day during peak months—carrying not only goods but also the diverse health risks and essential needs of mobile populations, according to sector players.
Speaking during the second Transport Corridors and Health Conference in Nairobi which ends today, North Star Alliance chairman, Bernard Kadasia, called on member states to institutionalise health in corridor governance, scale and connect roadside health networks and invest in innovation and digital transformation.
This is from electronic health passports and cross-border referrals, to mobile health clinics and data-driven site selection.
He further called for the building of long-term, blended financing models that combine public budgets, private sector contributions, social enterprise revenue and catalytic donor funds.
“Health investments along corridors should be seen as risk mitigation for trade and logistics, worthy of being embedded in infrastructure finance, insurance products and PPP frameworks,” Kadasia said.
North Star Alliance is a non-profit organisation that provides accessible primary healthcare to mobile populations, primarily long-distance truck drivers, sex workers and their communities across Africa, using converted shipping containers called “Blue box clinics” at key transport hubs like border crossings and ports.
The alliance also wants continued expansion and strengthening of roadside wellness centres along key corridors, deepened partnerships with ministries of health, transport, corridor authorities and local governments.
“There is also need to invest in data systems and research to better understand and address the health needs of truck drivers, sex workers, migrants and roadside communities and champion the voices of those who often remain invisible in policy conversations– the drivers, loaders, vendors and service workers who keep Africa’s economies moving,” said Kadasia.
Northern Corridor Transit Transport Coordination Authority executive secretary, John Deng, said infrastructure expansion including ports, roads and one stop-border posts, in addition to growth in trade, is exerting pressure on facilities along the corridor, calling for action.
“This progress also brings new responsibilities. The movement of people and goods introduces unique health vulnerabilities that transport and public health systems must address collaboratively,” Deng said.
Health challenges along transport corridors remain diverse and complex, including persistent communicable diseases, rising non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions among transport workers and service access gaps for migrant and mobile populations, he noted.
“The Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated that when mobility is disrupted by health emergencies, trade, livelihoods and entire economies are affected. It also showed that coordinated border health protocols, data sharing and surveillance systems are indispensable,” said Deng.
“These realities compel us to strengthen the health dimension of corridor development.”
Health CS Adan Duale said the Kenyan government recognises that corridor health is a multi-faceted security concern, as it encompasses not only communicable diseases like HIV, TB and Malaria but also the critical issues of Non-Communicable Diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
“Furthermore, we must decisively address the severe challenges of mental health, stress, fatigue and the threat of drug and substance use and abuse among our high-stress mobile workers,” said Duale.
Last year alone, the blue box or roadside wellness centres served over 200,000 client, including over 80,000 truck drivers.
Services include psycho-social support, counselling and fatigue management. Cumulatively, they have delivered over two million clinical and educational sessions.
