APM Terminals collaborated with non-profit group TwoBillionEyes Foundation to offer free eye tests and corrective glasses for truck drivers. The move seeks to create new employment opportunities and improves terminals’ cargo shipping. As explained, truck drivers’ unclear vision affects safety of the people and the efficient operation of the terminals.
The collaboration had as a result a free eye check-up that was conducted from 27 August to 13 September 2018. According to Tito Okuku, Managing Director of Great Lakes Ports Limited, through the eye check-up, the truck drivers, employed by the terminals, have a clear vision and can deliver the cargoes to the customers safely and on time.
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Moreover, 550 truck drivers visited the APM terminals’ inland container freight station for the eye check-up, which is placed 4km from Kenya’s major port of Mombasa. The inland container freight station is amongst East Africa’s largest and high-tech CFS operations with direct links to the port and the key markets of Nairobi and Kampala.
Poor vision is a an issue affecting 2.5 billion people throughout the globe. Meanwhile, unemployment affecting the youth across Africa seems to be a problem of the same importance.
Wouter De Gier, Head of Safety, Environment and Performance Management, APM Terminals, stated that
APM Terminals is committed to creating meaningful impact to the communities where we operate. We are delighted to collaborate with TwoBillionEyes to promote among our driver partners the importance of proper vision that leads to road safety, as well as to provide economic opportunities among Kenya’s youth.
