News Update on Mary Magdalene
Project
14 December 2006
We are happy to update you from Jos on how far the team has gone
on the Mary Magdalene Project which started in May 2006. A lot
has happened since our last update in August. Presently, the target
of 400 women has been reached with participants from hotels/brothels
within Jos and Bukuru environs. The huge Information gathered
from the study have been entered into the computer and data analysis
is in progress.
Focus group discussions were held separately with the head girls
and the hotel managers in an attempt to assess the needs of the
female sex workers. The meetings were a great success. The girls
related that their biggest challenges include unprotected sex,
inadequate and expensive health facilities. Others include exploitation
by security operatives and some of theirs clients, poor accommodation
and lack of money to set up personal income yielding businesses.
The managers on their part were also concerned about the health
of the women and their general welfare. The following solutions
were proffered: Education/enlightenment, setting up clinic in
the hotels, provision of affordable facilities in private hospitals
for the girls and setting up rehabilitation centers to acquire
skills. The managers were all very enthusiastic about the prospects
of the project and would be willing to provide spaces in their
hotels to be used as clinics and for education/enlightenment purposes.
Currently too, disclosure of HIV and hepatitis results is on.
This has not been easy as it has been very stressful on our part.
Initially, the ladies were mobilized from hotels to the private
clinic for their results; some of the ladies were actually very
anxious and turned up at the clinic, others were indifferent about
it and were not willing to come for it. As a result, the project
team after seeking the consent of the hotel managers moved out
into the hotels and since then has been moving from one hotel
to another and the ladies are happy to see us around. Another
problem is that some of the girls have relocated from the hotels
where they were recruited initially for the study and tracking
them has not been an easy task. On the whole, we have made meaningful
progress with over one hundred results disclosed and the work
continues.
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The girls awaiting
HIV and Hepatitis result disclosure and further blood tests |
HIV Results are disclosed following a thorough session of counseling
and administration of Post Test/HIV Result Disclosure Questionnaire
by the nurse counselors. The questionnaire amongst other things
seeks to know their view about HIV/AIDS and possible reactions
following disclosure of results. Blood samples are further collected
from those that are HIV sero-positive for CD4 count to assess
their eligibility for antiretroviral treatment and referral while
those that were HIV sero-negative are retested for HIV and subsequently
CD4 in cases of sero-conversion.
Although the girls would prefer receiving care and treatment
for both STIs and HIV in a private set up where they feel a lot
freer and their identity is concealed, the project at this stage
is unable to provide antiretroviral drugs to those who are eligible
for treatment. Those requiring antiretroviral and hepatitis treatment
are currently referred to a public hospital where the services
can be accessed. The project appears to have won the confidence
of the girls and the hotel managers and the girls now on their
own come freely to access the limited health services the team
can provide at this point in time in a private set up.
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