14 Nov Sex workers stuck in HIV nightmare
Harassment by police and humiliation at clinics mean just 5 percent of sex workers are getting health care.
This is according to research by the Sex Worker Education Advocacy Taskforce (Sweat), which says up to 60 percent of sex workers nationwide were HIV-positive and nearly 20 percent of all new infections were related to the industry through clients, partners, abuse and rape, according to its research.
“Sex workers are not vectors of disease, but rather through human rights abuse, marginalisation and lack of legitimacy, are placed into contexts where risk behaviours are significantly higher,” said Sweat in a statement.
Micky Meji, national co-ordinator of the Africa Sex Worker Alliance, said that adding to the infection rate was harassment by police, who often confiscated condoms from sex workers.
Meji, a former sex worker, also claimed some police officers would force sex workers to have sex with them without the use of condoms, or face arrest.
While the infection rate was high, Meji said the low number of sex workers seeking treatment was due to humiliation at clinics