CHENNAI: At the CMDA’s Truck Terminal in Madhavaram, a group of curious truck drivers gather around a temporary stage.Loud music starts, and a dance performance begins, drawing more people to the scene.This cultural programme was part of a health mela organised to mark this year’s National Truck Drivers Day celebrations. The fest was organised to honour the services of these truck drivers and to educate them on various health issues, especially those that were common to their travelling jobs. Considered a high risk group in contracting and spreading HIV/AIDS, the fest also emphasised the seriousness of this disease, its contraction, prevention and the implications, among such truck drivers.G Gnanasekar, Project Manager, Target Intervention programme at the CMDA Truck Terminal Welfare Association, said that the programme was not organised to merely address the issue of AIDS but also extend to other occupational diseases. “It is not only about the transmission of HIV; we also want them to be aware of the ill effects of drugs, tobacco and alcohol. Consumption of these items by drivers will have very dangerous consequences, if not checked soon enough.” Pamphlets were handed out and charts were put up in several booths which were set up for the day-long affair.Keeping in mind that many of the truck drivers were from the north of India, pamphlets were made available in Hindi as well as those in Tamil for the locals.The truckers were also allowed to interact with volunteers at the stalls, who explained the various exhibits to them, and their implications. Doctors were also present and interacted with the groups of drivers who wanted to talk, or perhaps schedule future physical examinations.Students of Everwin Matriculation School also had a display, showing the harmful effects that tobacco has on the body. Pamphlets with the dangers of cancer and how smoking caused it, in Hindi and English were made available.Priya, a teacher accompanying the students, said, “Some of them try to argue, saying that we do not understand the stress of the job and the real reasons why they smoke. At the same time, there are some drivers who do not smoke. Talking to them and getting them to encourage the others to give up smoking will be a more effective way of reaching out.”
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