A new study by the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) has revealed that over 60 per cent of truck drivers operating along the Northern Corridor are grappling with significant health challenges, raising serious road safety concerns.

The findings emerge as the corridor continues to be a critical conduit for transboundary infectious diseases, including Ebola, Marburg, COVID-19, HIV/Aids and, recently, Mpox.

NCTTCA’s Executive Secretary Dr John Deng Diar, disclosed that the study, conducted in April, uncovered multiple health complications among the drivers, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and eyesight issues.

Diar emphasised that poor health among drivers is a major red flag for road safety.

Safety conference

“We initially focused on eyesight issues as a safety measure, but as we dug deeper, the broader health issues became evident,” he said, revealing that they realised drivers are not as safe as thought.

“So it was not about their driving skills but about them and their own health,” he added.

To tackle these pressing issues, NCTTCA has announced the inaugural Annual Regional Conference on Transport Corridors and Health.

The three-day event, to be held in Nairobi, aims to enhance understanding of the crucial role transport corridors play in the spread of diseases within and across Africa.

“This conference is a first of its kind. It will bring together transport industry leaders, healthcare professionals, government representatives, community advocates, and mobile populations,” Dr Diar added.

The event will also explore interventions that could be replicated and scaled to improve health and safety along the corridors.

“During the Ebola scare and COVID-19 pandemic, we intervened strongly. Other illnesses like respiratory infections and the red-eye virus have also spread due to the movement of people and goods,” the Director for Private Sector Investment Promotion at NCTTCA Denis Muganga said.

The NCTTCA, partners with North Star Alliance, which runs clinics collecting and relaying health data daily through an integrated health management system. The information is shared with national hospitals in member states for timely action.

The Northern Corridor, which spans six member states, is critical to the region’s economic growth.