Wellness Centres
On the road
Truck drivers and other highly mobile people have difficulty accessing prevention and treatment services. North Star research shows that simple factors like limited operating hours and the location of health services can be huge barriers for such people. North Star has developed the Wellness Centre concept to extend local health infrastructure to reach these critical target groups.
Where the action is
North Star Wellness Centres are semi-mobile converted shipping containers that are placed at ‘hotspots’ like border posts or transit towns where large numbers of truckers stop and sex work and other informal trades flourish.
Wellness Centres are open “after hours” when truck drivers have parked for the night and sex work activity peaks. The exact hours of operation and other details are determined by surveys carried out prior to establishing each centre.
Colds and condoms
Truck drivers and other clients visit the centres for a number of reasons. Health communicators and clinicians offer a range of health services in a stigma-free setting including condoms, information on nutrition and HIV prevention, blood pressure checks, malaria treatment and antihistamines for a cold.
Attention is given to raising awareness, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and HIV counseling and testing is provided at most sites. North Star will expand its clinical services to include more comprehensive support for anti-retroviral therapies and tuberculosis screening.
Staying connected
People on the move need health services that move with them. North Star has developed an electronic health passport system, called COMETS (Corridor Medical Transfer System) that links centres together so that as drivers move with their patient records. COMETS allows North Star to monitor clinic hours, number of visitors, inventory levels and other critical information.
Assuring quality
North Star establishes and operates the centres for a range of public and private partners using our own set of Standard Operating Procedures. The centres are branded according to the wishes of the contracting party, but a common methodology is employed for service delivery, quality assurance, and monitoring and evaluation.
Each centre its own alliance
Wellness Centres extend local health services, they do not replace them! Formal agreements with governments ensure that services align with national health objectives. Over 60 stakeholders, including Ministries of Health and Transport, local transport companies, international government and private sector donors support North Star’s growing network.
Click here to view information and photos from each of our Roadside Wellness Centres.
