Eswatini: Sncomiso Mavimbela

Save The Children Eswatini – SRH HIV Knows no boarders

The project targets 3 groups, being Young people (Adolescence), Migrants (internal and externally) and sex workers. Sex workers are our first priority because in our area sex work is very high. Most Sex Workers were not getting health services because they were discriminated against because of their trade. They were also discriminated against in the community. We then came up with the SRHR HIV knows no boarders programme to help the SWs in accessing health services and also teach them SRH related issues through community dialogues and door to door meetings. The goal of SRHR HIV knows no boarder is to empower SWs on SRHR related issues and get them to have better access to health care services and know their rights.

ACTIVITIES

We chose the community dialogues because we wanted the community to understand the consequences that lead to sex work and teenage pregnancy so that they do not discriminate against people in this situation.  Community dialogues make the bond between SWs and the community at large. We chose our other strategy of door to door meetings with some Sex workers for private sessions. We also did campaigns for young people when schools are closed to teach them on SRHR issues and they were a huge success.

RESULTS AND OUTCOMES

Our programme has ultimately addressed the problem of discriminating against SWs and empowers SWs to speak, know their rights, and decrease the rate of HIV in the community. The donor is impressed by our work and will continue the project for another 2 more phases. The government promised to change the current situation in health centres so that people can get better services because of our reports.