International development organisation Transaid has launched its 2026 Christmas Appeal, calling on businesses and individuals to support efforts aimed at improving road safety and access to essential healthcare across sub-Saharan Africa. The appeal comes as Transaid continues to work with local partners and communities in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia to develop safer, more reliable and sustainable transport systems. Through its programmes, the organisation focuses on professional driver training, improved driving standards and community-led transport solutions that help connect people to essential health services.
Transport remains an important link between communities and healthcare facilities, particularly in rural and underserved areas where poor roads, limited transport options and a shortage of trained drivers can make it difficult for people to access medical services. Transaid’s work seeks to address these challenges by strengthening the skills of professional drivers and riders while also supporting locally appropriate transport solutions. The organisation works closely with partners on the ground to ensure that its programmes respond to the needs of communities and can continue to deliver benefits beyond the life of individual projects.
The results achieved over the past year demonstrate the impact of these initiatives. Across Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia, Transaid and its partners trained more than 8,000 professional drivers and riders. The training is designed to improve driving skills, promote safer behaviour on the roads and reduce the risks faced by drivers, passengers and other road users. In Ghana alone, almost 4,000 drivers were reached through road safety education, helping to increase awareness of responsible driving practices among people who spend much of their working lives on the country’s roads.
In Kenya, Transaid’s work has also focused on an often-overlooked road safety issue: driver vision. During the past year, the organisation provided more than 5,300 eye tests to long-distance truck drivers and distributed 1,280 pairs of glasses. Good vision is essential for professional drivers, particularly those operating heavy vehicles over long distances, and these interventions can help identify vision problems that could otherwise increase the risk of road crashes.
Community transport initiatives have also remained an important part of Transaid’s work. The organisation delivered refresher training to 208 bicycle ambulance riders, custodians and Community Health Volunteers. Bicycle ambulances can provide a practical transport option for communities where conventional emergency vehicles may be unavailable or difficult to use. By strengthening the knowledge and skills of the people responsible for operating and supporting these services, Transaid is helping communities maintain transport solutions that are closely connected to local healthcare needs.
The organisation says continued support from the transport and logistics industry is critical to maintaining and expanding this work. For the 2026 Christmas Appeal, Transaid has introduced three corporate donation packages intended to recognise businesses that contribute to its programmes. The packages provide companies with an opportunity to support road safety and healthcare access while demonstrating their commitment to social impact and sustainable development.
Individuals and companies that may not wish to use the corporate packages can also contribute by making a direct donation or purchasing Transaid-themed festive greeting cards. As the festive season approaches, the appeal offers the transport and logistics community an opportunity to turn its support into practical action, helping create safer roads and better access to healthcare for communities across sub-Saharan Africa.
