By Chisomo Sumani
Theatre for a change (TFAC), in partnership with Commonwealth Foundation and Female Sex Workers Association (FSWA), have stood up to address challenges women in sex work (WISW), among others, face in accessing non-judgmental Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights(SRHR) services.
TFAC Board Chair, Robert Ngaiyaye, said there are several gaps which have been identified as far as rights of WISW in accessing sexual reproductive health services are concerned.
“Service providers need to be aware of the provision of service to people such as WISW,” he said.
FSWA Advocacy Officer, Willie Kwacha, said failure to get the right assistance in hospitals and discrimination and stigmatization are some of the abuses that WISW face.
“And again, if sex workers are not attended to well, HIV will continue to widely spread.
“We have a problem with those who are not open to reveal themselves that they be attended to but we are able to reach the ones we know but still realize an increase in HIV,” he said.
TFAC is working to make an impact with the involvement of Civil Society Organisation (CSO), hospital ombudsman, nurses and those responsible for the shortcomings in their service delivery.
Health Ombudsman for Bwaila Hospital, Tinyade Pahuwa, said in order to ensure that the shortcomings are addressed, WISW was directed to the office of the hospital ombudsman so that they give their complaints.
“We agreed to help when there is an issue and educate them on the freedom they have in receiving proper treatment. Government hospitals are for free and all people need to be assisted regardless of who they are,” Pahuwa said.