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| TNW+ Coordinator, Ms Chamungu |
THE Tanzania Network of women Living with
HIV and Aids (TNW+) has called for the government to enact clear laws and policy framework for commercial sex workers
which will
involve development of strategies, legislative changes and
its implementation on the right to access quality healthcare facilities
for the group.
The challenge is contained in the latest
report by TNW+ National Coordinator Ms Joan
Chamungu
a copy of which was availed to Zuia UKIMWI
Tanzania blog early this week. However, commercial sex work remains illegal business under the country's laws. It is strictly forbidden
Chamungu said, the laws should among many
others, establish a regular screening and Treatment of STIs
for commercial sex workers which involves the screening and
treatment of STI for commercial sex workers and community
at high risk for various diseases like gonorrhea Chlamydia including HIV/AIDS
and HIP
According to Chamungu, screening and
treatment have been identified as the effective way for sexual and reproductive
needs for female commercial sex workers in Tanzania.
Sexual
and Reproductive Health needs of sex workers
Chamungu said, in order to minimize the
prevalence of STI, TNW+ recommended several steps/ measures need to be enforced
into this group. Those are,
Education on sexuality-It includes comprehensive sexual education programs including community based health programs Screening and Treatment of STIs-It involves the screening and treatment of STI for sex workers and community at high risk for various diseases like gonorrhea Chlamydia including HIV/AIDS and HIP .Screening and treatment has being identified as the effective way for sexual and reproductive needs for female commercial sex workers in Tanzania . Steen, (2002.2003) in his study revealed that both presumptive for sex workers and community based STI treatment for whole communities at high risk, can reduce the risk of HIV transmission.
Family
Planning Services–Ongoing and availability of Contraceptive and counseling
services are vital to these groups. Moreover, types and how to comply with the
pills is very essential as this will help to minimize the unwanted and unsafe
abortions.
·
Delivery
Services
–It includes ANC and Delivery services -This type of service is essential for
Sex workers due high number of pregnancies caused by unsafe sex. (Guttmacher
Institute 1998).
·
Condom
Use Services (programs). Availability of Condoms and their
utilization among female sex workers in Tanzania is vital as many of sex
workers are forced to perform unprotective sex by violent clients and the
amount of money given.
·
Establishment
of clear policy framework for sex work- It involves
development of strategies, legislative changes and its implementation.
·
Healthcare
access
–Fare/available
access to healthcare services such drop in centre.
Current
situation of commercial sexual workers
Demographic parameters
of female sex workers vary from country to country, but most available data
suggests that the women selling sex are, on average, in their early to
mid-twenties. For instance the majority of Dar es
Salaam FSWs had their sexual debut between 16 and 20 years of age (59.9%) and
about 36% had their sexual debut between 10 and15 years of age.
The
median sexual debut age for FSWs in our sample was 17 years. The most common
reason given by FSWs for entering into sex work was the need for money to
support their family or to pay off debts (71.0%)
The most
common age category of first selling sex was above 20 years (60.3%), while
32.4% of FSWs entered into sex work between 16 and 20 years. The median age of
entering into sex work for our study population was 24 years. The median number
of clients reported on study participants’ last working day was three. About
55% of sex workers said they met their clients in nightclubs, casinos, pubs, or
bars, and 31.4% met their clients in their own homes, in their friends’ homes,
or in brothels
Background
According to
Chamungu. the TNW+ is the first network
of women in Tanzania for and run by HIV positive women and was formed by HIV positive women from 4 NGOs and 19 CBOs
for women respectively. In Tanzania like many African countries commercial sex
worker (CSW) group found most-at-risk populations (MARPs).
Though CSWs
considered themselves at high risk of HIV infection, communities, is often
discriminated against and/or neglected as regards access to health care
services due to most public and community health projects and programmes in
Tanzania are not address this group since such projects and programs are
targeted at more static communities and individuals who can attend day-time
facilities. This means that treatment and time may be needed out of normal
working hours
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