BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA IN MAKAHA
A Key Populations programme implemented by the National AIDS Council (NAC) in Makaha, Mudzi District, is yielding positive results.
The programme has improved the livelihoods of sex workers through various income-generating projects.
For these projects, NAC collaborated with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development and the Ministry of Youth Empowerment Development and Vocational Training.
Sex workers were also trained as peer educators, inspiring positive change among their colleagues.
During a NAC media tour in Makaha, several Key Populations peer educators shared their experiences, revealing how projects like chicken and cattle rearing, events decoration and entertainment had enabled them to earn money, reducing their reliance on sex work.
Georgina Chokuposhiwa, a peer educator at the Makaha hotspot, explained how NAC empowered her to train other sex workers in HIV prevention and treatment.
“We have many sex workers here due to gold mining activities. NAC identified me and my colleagues, teaching us about HIV and STIs.
“We were trained to share this information with our peers, helping them understand health issues.”
Chokuposhiwa added that income-generating projects had improved their lives.
“As sex workers our work is seasonal. We realized we needed alternative income sources.
“We started with a project called “Pane munhu ngapawoneke’ and agreed to do more,” she added.
Patience Munyoro, another peer educator, said NAC trained her to provide health information to her colleagues.
“With NAC’s assistance, we mobilized peers to join our projects. Sex work is risky and seasonal. As we grow older, we lose clients. “These projects help us take care of our families without financial challenges.”
Nyasha Makina, a peer educator, noted that the projects had greatly improved their lives.
She said other community members are seeing the benefits.
Makina added thay they had five herds of cattle and aim to do more.
Mudzi District AIDS Coordinator at NAC, Trader Muzamhindo, said the Key Populations programme had brought relief to sex workers.
“They faced health risks from high-paying clients demanding unprotected sex.
“We roped in the Ministry of Women Affairs to train sex workers in income-generating projects.”
Muzamhindo added that the programme had empowered sex workers to make informed smart sexual reproductive health right choices.
“They can negotiate for safe sex and have alternative income streams, reducing their reliance on risky clients.”
To reduce new HIV infections, Mudzi District is implementing the Key Populations and Male Engagement programmes. The district has 17 peer educators for the Key Populations programme and a Behaviour Change Community Motivator (BCCM) for each ward.
