"These are the people most exposed to the challenges, including contracting HIV-Aids"

THE Department of Transport's Cross-Border Road Transport Agency staged a successful HIV-Aids Health Awareness road show aimed at transport operators, including taxi drivers, in Pretoria.

The event, which was held at the Belle Ombre Taxi Rank in Marabastad in partnership with the City of Tshwane, addressed transport operators on issues relating to HIV-Aids and the important role played by transport in the country's economy.

The agency's executive manager for trade facilitation and industry development, Mudunwazi Baloyi, was impressed by the response of taxi drivers and members of the public who tested voluntarily.

He said within the three hours they spent at the rank "we had about 100 people who took the test voluntarily".

Baloyi said they targeted truck, bus and taxi drivers because they spent most of their time on the road travelling to various areas locally and across the borders.

"These are the people most exposed to the challenges, including contracting HIV-Aids," he said.

After taking tests excited taxi operators waved their certificates and put on caps promoting an "HIV-free SADC Region".