North Star Alliance is a non-profit organization that grew out of a public-private initiative to
promote the health and well-being of long- distance truck drivers, turnboys and other transport workers in sub- Saharan Africa. The partnership was established in 2006 by TNT and the UN World Food Programme.
North Star is building a network of roadside health and learning clinics (Wellness Centres) at border crossings, ports and truck stops along transport corridors in Africa. The clinics are conveniently located and open during hours when the truck drivers are resting for the night and therefore have time to seek health services. They help public and private stakeholders to reach critical mobile populations at the heart of major health and safety issues.
An electronic health passport system, COMETS, links all of the centres so that treatment information can ‘travel’ with our clients. It also allows us to manage, monitor and evaluate the performance of each locally- run Wellness Centre.
