Truck Drivers Blast Govt Over Coronavirus Spread & Harassment Along Routes
“I want to let people know that truck drivers are not the ones who imported the virus from China, Europe, or America because we cannot go to those countries with our trucks.”
JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN: Truck drivers in Juba are being blamed by some people for spreading the coronavirus.
Some truck drivers say they have been attacked, robbed and harassed along major routes in and out of the country.
Those who tested positive say the government of South Sudan should provide food to COVID-19 patients who are under quarantine as well as protect them from attacks from the community by not framing truck drivers as the carriers of the disease.
“This is a global disease that moves in the air; drivers cannot be blamed for spreading the virus. The drivers also contract the coronavirus by accident but when you listen to the radio they always say it’s the truck drivers carrying the disease,” says Truck driver Amule Mustafa.
Before COVID-19, truck drivers and their turn boys would easily interact with communities along their routes both inside and outside South Sudan. But that has all changed since the coronavirus outbreak.
“While it’s true that some truck drivers have tested positive, I don’t understand why all truck drivers should be blamed for spreading the virus,” Mustafa told The Insider.
Truck driver Isaac Lumago says he and other truckers no longer interact with communities along major roads for fear of being attacked. Lumago says even South Sudanese truck drivers cannot socialize or interact with local community members out of fear of being attacked.
Long-distance truck drivers are seen as high-risk COVID-19 carriers after some positive cases were traced back to truck drivers in neighboring Uganda and Kenya.
East African governments have restricted access to their communities and implemented mandatory COVID-19 testing for truck drivers.
Whenever a truck driver reaches a border crossing he is treated harshly because everyone suspects he is carrying the virus, according to the truckers.
“When we reach border points the authorities say the driver should cross alone and the turn-boys should remain just because they think we drivers are carriers of coronavirus. But I want to let people know that truck drivers are not the ones who imported the virus from China, Europe, or America because we cannot go to those countries with our trucks,” Mustapha added.
In most countries, Coronavirus patients are taken care of by the government until they recover from the pandemic, driver Lumago urges the South Sudan government to support truck drivers who test positive for COVID-19.
“We hear that in Uganda if someone has tested positive for COVID-19, he or she is taken into government quarantine or isolation facility with full care until you test negative then they will let you go home. But here in South Sudan one of our drivers tested positive but all they said was that he should eat alone, keep distance, and should not move around.” Lumago said.
He says they are obeying the doctor’s advice, but there is a need for support in terms of food and medicine.
an idea Simon Jamus, a truck driver who tested positive for the coronavirus, seconded. Jamus says the government support to COVID-19 patients would minimize the risk of infecting others.
“Some people are wicked; they will go and mingle with others while looking for food. They are right because they don’t have food to eat since they are under isolation or quarantine in their homes. So should they die of both hunger and coronavirus disease? No, it’s better they die of disease but should eat.’ Jamus told The Insider.
Mr. Jamus who has been taken care of by his colleagues and his Boss says “the most difficult thing is for someone to be in a position of not being able to provide for himself and his family because of COVID-19.”
Truck drivers have also complained about long delays at some border entry points where they are required to wait for results of their mandatory coronavirus tests before continuing on their routes.
They have also urged the government to provide an isolation facility to hospital patients with both mild and severe illnesses and provide them with essential medical services to expedite their recovery system.
Nejib Zakaria, a turn boy says the government should introduce compulsory testing of people in the capital Juba to determine the level of Coronavirus spread among the communities.
“The government is very powerful, they should bring more testing kits to increase the testing capacity. We are tired of dying from war since the ’80s. up to date, we are still dying. Coronavirus has come and it’s even worse than war. why does the government turn a blind eye,” Zakaria demanded.
South Sudan has so far confirmed 1670 COVID-19 cases including 24 deaths and 48 recoveries.
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