Eldoret:10,000 Sex workers decry shortage of condoms and lubricants!
An image of street sex workers waiting for their clients /Courtesy
Over 10,000 sex workers in Eldoret have decried an acute shortage of HIV prevention commodities such as Condoms which has resulted in an upsurge of HIV infections.
The Eldoret sex workers Alliance (ESWA) with a membership of over 2,800 members , now claim most of its members have been predisposed to sexually transmitted diseases with a good number of them getting pregnant,
“We have been experiencing a serious shortage of Condoms, and even sex lubricants. This has left many of our members exposed to disease transmissions, “Said Alice Chepngetich Saina, the Director (ESWA).
Saina A 52 year old sex worker also says most of her members are suffering due to the lack of HIV test kits as well as lack of other forms of contraception to help in family planning.
“Many of our members especially in poverty stricken estates and who operate within Chang’aa selling dens are pregnant, due to lack of prevention commodities, we need these commodities in order to help in curbing HIV prevalence,” She says
Sex workers in Eldoret are categorized in the following groups-
- Sex workers on Transit –this group moves from place to place
- Hotspot-Those based on strategic places within and outside of Eldoret town,
- Home based-This a group of sex workers who are based within estates and would engage in sex work within their homes.
- Street Based –This group would be found along the streets and has attracted many young girls who have recently dropped from school.
ESWA is concerned especially over the growing numbers of young girls as young as 14 years who have joined sex work within Eldoret,
Director Eldoret sex workers Alliance (ESWA),Alice Chepngetich Saina/Photo James Gitaka
“The young girls are mostly school dropouts, many of them are unaware on how to use protection and prevent acquiring or transmitting HIV,many are to be found within the category of street sex workers” She opines.
Many of the Sex workers have suffered brutality from both national police and County Askaris ,
“We are experiencing a lot of harassment and arbitrary arrests, some have in the recent past been arrested and taken to the County rescue centre where they had their hair shaved against their will,Rescue centre should be a place for young children in need of care and not adults”?.
At the Moment most of our members are arrested by county askaris and taken to the county cells against the law.They should be taken to a police station where they are booked and taken to court ,The harassment must stop! She adds.
ESWA is currently advocating for sex workers rights and services as human beings who share in universal human rights
In the next write up Saina explains how sex workers have been brutally murdered in Eldoret mostly for ritual purposes amid other threats to their lives.
About Author
