Taxi drivers to receive cardiovascular screenings, health education and personalised AI-generated music as World Heart Month puts prevention in the spotlight
Seen Here: Taking heart health to the streets. ❤️ SA Heart®’s Check My Beat campaign brought cardiovascular screening, health education and technology to Bara Taxi Rank, giving taxi drivers a practical opportunity to check their heart health — and take the message of prevention with them. Photo Credit: Sourced
JOHANNESBURG, 14 September 2026 — The road to better heart health is taking an unexpected turn through one of Johannesburg’s busiest transport hubs, as the South African Heart Association® (SA Heart®) brings its Check My Beat campaign to Bara Taxi Rank on Tuesday, 15 September.
The initiative forms part of World Heart Month activities and is designed to take cardiovascular health awareness out of traditional healthcare settings and directly into communities — with taxi drivers at the centre of the campaign.
South Africa continues to face a significant cardiovascular disease burden. Current national and international data show that cardiovascular disease remains a major cause of death, with more than 100,000 cardiovascular deaths recorded in South Africa in 2024.
SA Heart® says prevention and early detection are critical, particularly because many cardiovascular risk factors can be identified and addressed before they develop into serious illness.
The organisation estimates that about 225 South Africans die from heart disease every day, while approximately 80% of heart disease and strokes can be prevented through healthier lifestyle choices and early intervention.
Taking prevention to where people work
For taxi drivers, maintaining their health can be challenging.
Long working hours, limited opportunities for physical activity, convenient food choices and the pressures of operating in a demanding transport environment can make routine preventative healthcare difficult to prioritise.
Check My Beat is therefore built around accessibility — bringing screening and health conversations directly to drivers rather than expecting them to find time to seek out preventative care.
“Cardiovascular health requires greater attention, particularly when it comes to prevention and early screening,” says Dr David Jankelow, cardiologist and former president of SA Heart®.
He says many of the risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease can be addressed through healthier lifestyle choices and early intervention.
“Through Check My Beat, we are taking this conversation directly into communities and making access to screening and health education more convenient and relevant to the people we want to reach,” Jankelow says.
More than just a health check
At Bara Taxi Rank, participating drivers will have access to quick cardiovascular screenings covering indicators including blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose, supported by healthcare and technology partners.
But the campaign is deliberately designed to make the experience more engaging than a conventional screening.
Drivers will also encounter an AI-powered selfie screen, while those who complete their screening will receive a personalised “Heart Health Track” — an AI-generated song created specifically for them.
The tracks draw on Maskandi-inspired music, incorporating heartbeat rhythms and personalised messages encouraging healthier choices and greater attention to cardiovascular wellbeing.
The idea is to turn medical information into something personal, memorable and capable of travelling beyond the screening site.
“We want to make cardiovascular health something people can engage with in a way that feels relevant to their everyday lives,” says Mandi Fine, SA Heart® board member and co-founder of the Check My Beat project.
“The Heart Health Tracks give drivers a personal reminder of the importance of looking after their health, while using technology and music to make the message memorable.”
A collaborative approach to community health
Check My Beat brings together SA Heart® and a group of partners — Anglo American, Betway Cares Foundation, Cipla, Jozi My Jozi, Nahana Foundation, Syntro-P and the University of the Witwatersrand — around a shared focus on cardiovascular awareness, prevention and community engagement.
The partnership reflects a broader shift towards preventative healthcare interventions that combine medical screening with technology, education and community participation.
For SA Heart®, the Bara Taxi Rank activation is not intended as a once-off health intervention. The campaign seeks to encourage people to understand their cardiovascular risk, seek screening earlier and make healthier choices throughout the year.
Putting the heart back on the agenda
September is recognised in South Africa as Heart Awareness Month, culminating in World Heart Day on 29 September. The month is intended to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease, its risk factors and the importance of prevention and appropriate treatment.
With Check My Beat, SA Heart® is putting that message into motion — literally meeting people where they work, commute and live.
For the taxi drivers at Bara Taxi Rank, the campaign offers more than a health check. It offers an opportunity to understand what their own heartbeat is telling them — and to turn that knowledge into action.
Because when it comes to heart health, checking your beat could be the first step towards changing your life.
