Preventive Health Care Program for Truckers

Securing good health and well-being through mobile medical units (MMUs) – A Good Health Ecosystem building Platform for transport fraternity.

Guided by the National Health Mission’s (NHM) vision of ensuring that all people in the country can access quality and affordable health services, “MMU/Clinic” provide free-of-cost medical check-ups, lab tests and medicines to truckers community, that remain largely isolated from mainstream healthcare eco systems. STFC funded MMUs/Clinic are functional across 23 locations in 11 states. It aims at improving the accessibility to primary healthcare for the weaker sections of the society.

Key focus of STFC funded MMUs/Clinic

• Free primary healthcare services.
• Screening, diagnosis, treatment and referral for non-communicable, communicable diseases, and minor ailments.
• Awareness, education and counselling on healthy practices, lifestyle modifications, non-communicable disease management etc.
• A unique model of Tobacco Cessation Counselling and referrals program for trucking community.
• Multi stakeholder partnership – Transpt. associations, government and Non – Govt. agency.

STFC has crossed the benchmark of reaching out to 2 lakh plus beneficiary with an average of more than 79% trucking community.

Success Stories

Name	: Manjunath. A
Age	: 41Yr
Occupation	: Driver
Complication	: Hypertension
MMU Name	: STFCL Mumbai

Manjunath, a 41 year old truck driver, very recently was stressed and discomfort while travelling for long
distances. That is when he saw the STFC Mobile Medical Van conducting health camp on Mumbai Highway at his
doorstep. So, he thought of visiting the STFC Mobile Medical Van doctor. He got his blood sugar and Blood
Pressure checked and was diagnosed with Hypertension. He did not realize this earlier as he never got a
chance
to get himself examined. He never had any other problem because of which he kept on ignoring his health.
This
was the time when he realized his health status and said – “I did not know about the complications I had
with my
health. The doctor counselled me on precautions and healthy practices to be followed. I am much more aware
of my
health now and would take care of it. Thanks to STFC Mobile Medical Vans for making healthcare services
available and accessible for us.”

Name	: Dr. Harshitha
Designation	: Medical Consultant
MMU Name	: Bengaluru MMU

Dr.Harshita has completed her MBBS from Bangalore and had been working with private hospital in casualty
before joining STFC’s primary healthcare Program. Dr.Harshita believes in connecting with communities and
serving them. She says “There were no healthcare intervention for drivers especially those who travel long
distance. There are some foundations/organisations which focus upon STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
especially HIV/AIDS, vision problems of drivers but there was no intervention related to prevent, screen or
treat Diabetes and Hypertension and common ailments. Our project focuses upon making health care accessible
to the truckers not just for common ailments including hyper tension and diabetes, which are common in truck
drivers as they travel long distance, have long sitting hours behind the wheel, eat outside food and don’t
get enough time/facilities for their regular check-up and treatment. I feel privileged to be part of this
team and wish to serve beneficiaries with all of my knowledge and dedication.

Augmenting livelihoods through vocational and skill trainings

Currently with one of the highest youth population in the world, India faces its greatest opportunity as well as challenge. It is slated to become the world’s youngest nation by 2022. This demographic dividend not only provides a huge reservoir of manpower, but also draws focus towards making this talent pool employable.

The Government of India, under its ‘Skill India’ mission, has initiated a number of schemes to achieve this end. Since inception the Government has emphasised that this vision cannot be achieved without multi-stakeholder collaboration, the corporate sector/business marked as a critical contributor.

STFC has contributed towards this national goal by extending trainings for the skilling, re-skilling and up-skilling of drivers.

Key focus of STFC’s driver training project

• Training is given to new drivers.
• Includes training in light motor vehicles (LMVs) and heavy motor vehicles (HMVs).
• Jobs/placement linkages, primarily in the commercial transport industry, are provided to trained drivers.

Skill Building outreach

Driver trainings in both LMVs and HMVs were conducted across the length and breadth of the country. Over 3500 candidates were trained, with 72 percent of them getting placed in the logistics industry which in turn is larger goal of filling the skill gap of the logistics industry.

By providing skilling as well as re-skilling and up-skilling opportunities in the driving industry, STFC is contributing towards upgrading the status and social attraction of what are considered low-quality and bottom of the pyramid (BOP) jobs. Furthermore by extending training in driving HMVs, it is an attempt in the direction of transforming the largely inefficient and hazardous nature of truck driving.