In Malawi, where poverty and unemployment remain high, many women turn to sex work – offering sexual services in exchange for payment of some sort - to support themselves and their families. Sex workers find themselves in high demand throughout night spots and drinking venues in cities of trade and along the busy trade and transport hubs, where truck drivers pass through. 

Stigmatized, often targets of scorn, exclusion, and violence – yet always in demand – sex workers exist on the fringes of society.  Sex workers are five times more at risk of contracting HIV, STIs, and unwanted pregnancies than females in the general population. This has health implications for the general population as well. Yet sex workers are largely excluded from healthcare, including HIV testing and treatment, and often face stigma and discrimination from health staff. An MSF project in two southern Malawi districts is helping thousands of sex workers to access health services designed for their needs.  To harness their own knowledge and experience, sex workers are employed as trained community health workers who reach women through discreet networks of trust and confidentiality and help them get the care they need. 

Exhibited in Beira, Mozambique,  Kigali, Rwanda, Budapest, Hungary, and Barcelona, Spain accompanied by music composed by Raul Refree .
​Published on BBC with text by Kate Ribet. 

Malawi, 2019
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