More than 50 pct of prostitutes in Zimbabwe are HIV positive, report reveals

Over 50 percent of sex workers in Zimbabwe are having the deadly HIV virus, according to a report revealed by the UNAIDS HIV and Women.

The report states that at least 90 percent of sex workers in Southern Africa are female, although selling sex is also common among men who have sex with men and transgender people. “This is concerning in an environment where condoms are being confiscated and gender inequality makes condom negotiation difficult,” the report revealed.

The report acknowledges that progress has been made and the number of sex workers reached with HIV prevention programmes in Zimbabwe has more than doubled in recent years, from 7,300 in 2014 to 16,900 in 2015. “In some cases, sex workers have no access to condoms or are unaware of their importance,” the report stated.

According to the latest report by the UNAIDS HIV and Women, practice is illegal in Zimbabwe and police often round-up sex workers on charges of ‘loitering for purposes of prostitution’ in the streets. “This exacerbates sex workers’ vulnerability to HIV as fear of arrest often stops sex workers from accessing health services,” the report added, as reported by New Zimbabwe.

Also Read: UNAIDS’ report claims Zimbabwe has 7,40,000 HIV-infected young women