By Davies Rwabu
On April 18, I shared on my Facebook timeline that truck drivers would be our next threat in the fight against Covid-19. Some of you read the piece below. It now turns out that my fears as allayed seem to be Uganda's current challenge.
In the early 1990s, when HIV/AIDS had started rearing its ugly head the spread was most exacerbated by a conspicuous group of actors the truck drivers among others. Of course, there were the Fishermen, the ordinary folks in their communities, the rich and the poor alike!
But, Why truck drivers? Their movement is at best fast, essential and unpredictably lethal. They can be as many plying Uganda roads. At Malaba border post about 300 needed to be tested daily. The 90s saw Stopovers like Naluwerere, Iduudi, Nakalama, Mbiiko in the east, Mutukula border town a few kilometres away from Rakai and other towns become a haven for the easy spread of HIV/AIDS along major corridor towns.
Research indicates that at height of the HIV pandemic many truck drivers had multiple heterosexual relationships, did not consistently use condoms and coupled by condom scarcity; that even compounded the problem. They also delayed treatment for STI related illnesses. These factors showed how vulnerable the truck drivers were in reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS then. Definitely, the multiple sexual relations were with prostitutes; members of the larger communities in those towns. This also meant the HIV spread would get into the surrounding communities. The scars are still there for everyone to see - many lost to HIV/AIDS, many orphaned, many widowed, many...
Enter, Covid-19! The situation of spread will most likely move along the same dimensions unless their activities are somewhat regulated in the interim. Long distance truck drivers cross borders and mingle with the communities in those corridor towns through the aid of their accomplices - the wonderful ladies of the night. The case of the truck driver apprehended in Kamdini allegedly had been in contact with 3 women friends or ladies of the night in a space of 2 nights in his sojourn to deliver goods to South Sudan. Apparently three other women have been quarantined in Soroti town or making contact with the same driver. Who knows how many more? These women back home have families and other people they are in constant contact with. Should they be ladies of the night perhaps they are clients to other truck drivers who take turns to share the 'goodies' unabated. And the spread will continue should one have contracted the now deadly Covid-19.
Unlike HIV/AIDS where spread can be reduced through the proper use of the condom among others now. We have a problem on our hands with the elusive Covid-19 that is spread through okwetsyamura (coughing out), sneeze droplets, touching the MEN (Mouth, Eyes and Nose areas) after touching surfaces where the coronavirus could have been placed. Remember we are very low on hygiene practices such as washing hands. I can imagine the washing of hands has intensified. I pray it is not at the expense of bathing! Picture one lady of the night swinging from one long distance truck driver to another! No bath! I shudder.
We need the truck drivers nonetheless. They are holding the slow shutdown that the economy is experiencing by delivering goods (imports and exports). Government needs to however find a way of regulating their operations in the face of Covid-19. Ensure strict curfew in those stopover towns, a very challenging task.
Quarantine them at the border crossing point from the time they take the test for Covid-19 to the time the results get back. Whoever has a clean bill of health continues. One who fails, isolate and start treatment. Deport? Is it in the spirit of East Africanism? Covid-19 wants to dismantle that in a way! #Alonetogther is a new phenomenon.
Alternatively, there is a rise in unemployment occasioned by closure of mass transportation. Let truck drivers work in shifts...drive inside Kenya...and deliver to Malaba. Hand over to the other driver in Uganda to deliver to Elegu. Another at Elegu in South Sudan delivers the consignment and brings back the truck. And the reverse cycle continues. They should however disinfect at each point a new driver comes aboard. Sounds hectic! Some will say they are carrying sensitive goods you cannot entrust multiple hands. We could start with transporters under one umbrella company and see how it gets. But with Covid-19 there is no taking things lightly.
20 cases so far of truck drivers in a short time! A Kenyan, Ugandan and Tanzanian. EAC needs to do something now! Lest, we curve-in to more cases of Covid-19.
#StaySafeUg
#StayHome
#fightCORONA19
Davies Rwabu is a Communication Skills Lecturer at Makerere University and Freelance Consultant on Communication.
