Sex workers drilled in sexual and reproductive health
Rumphi-based Matunkha Development Trust (MDT) says it has trained 3o members of the district’s Commercial Sex Workers Alliance in sexual reproductive health (SRH).
MDT programme officer Watson Malanga on Friday said his organisation drilled the sex workers in importance of taking antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), among other SRH services.
He said they targeted sex workers because they are a vulnerable group to HIV, the virus that causes Aids, due to the nature of their work.
lack SRH knowledge
“We decided to equip the sex workers with life skills so that they can protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies,” Malanga said.
He said the organisation noted that many sex workers lack SRH information.
Rumphi Commercial Sex Workers Alliance secretary Penelope Dapalapa commended the organisation for the week-long training, saying it will help protect the health of sex workers.
“Our lives were in great danger. Most of us did not know anything about SRH because we prioritised money. Now we will be cautious when conducting our business,” she said.
Dapalapa added that the workshop helped HIV positive sex workers to adhere to treatment.
The commercial sex workers also had a chance to go for cervical cancer screening.
The training drew sex workers from across the district.
