Rose
SALIMA-(MaraviPost)-Scores of commercial sex workers in Malawi’s lakeshore district of Salima are reportedly not profiteering from their sex work and are willing to dump the trade if bailed out with other sustainable sources of livelihoods.
Most of them claim they are into this business just because of gnashing poverty.
Representatives of the sex workers community in Salima disclosed this to a Global Fund delegation that came to appreciate the progress of an HIV prevention program for Female Sex Workers (FSWs) being implemented in the district by ActionAid Malawi in partnership with Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM) and Pakachere Institute for Health and Communication.
Rose Katsache, a commercial sex worker and Peer Navigator for the HIV prevention program, revealed that a sex worker in Salima is lucky to make MK4000 per night and that is after serving at least seven men.
With the current high cost of living in Malawi, Katsache said the sex worker struggles even to buy food and other few necessities for the day.
“We would appreciate if generous well wishers helped us with some capital to ran our own businesses so we can make enough money for our daily survivor and save some for our future,” she begged.
The HIV prevention program has helped Katsache and many of her mates stay healthy as they ply their trade.
The program seeks to reduce new HIV infections among sex workers by reaching out to them with a package of services including; promotion and distribution of condoms and lubricants, HIV testing and counseling and referral to Ante Retro Viral Therapy for positive sex workers.
Global Fund delegation meeting Salima Sex workers
The sex workers also undergo screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, screening for gender based violence and cervical cancer and are provided with family planning services and referral to social or clinical services.
According to ActionA id Malawi Advocacy and Technical Coordinator for Joint TB-HIV Grant Innocent Malomo, Salima is targeted because of increasing levels of economic activity and a booming sex-work industry in the district.
597 female sex workers have have been enrolled into the program through identified 17 hotspots and trained peer educators and navigators who are in constant touch with the beneficiaries so that the objectives of the project are being realized.
“It is encouraging that more sex workers are now able to access HIV testing, AIDs treatment and other health services which was not the case before,” testified Malomo.
Katsache concurred with Malomo, noting that the HIV prevention program has opened up the eyes of many sex workers to begin to consider their health seriously.
“We know our health status which enables us to operate our business with caution so that we continue to live and enjoy life like anyone else,” said Katsache.
Taking their turn, the visiting Global Fund delegation acknowledged the poverty among commercial sex workers, saying their conditions of service are indeed appalling and promised to report this when they get back to their countries.
Led by Ice Land’s Law Maker Auslag Arna Sigurbjornsdottir, the delegation suggested that education for the girl child is key to rescue girls and women from the chains of prostitution.
