Sex workers donate medical supplies to Dedza District Hospital

Malawi: Concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted the Dedza Sex Workers Association to donate a variety of medical supplies to the district hospital, writes George Mponda, MANA.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana Tuesday at Dedza Boma after making the donation, Alice Matambo, Chairperson of the Dedza Sex Workers Association, said COVID-19 has crippled their business because clients are not indulging in the business as before.

She said: “We have over 300 hundred registered sex workers in Dedza and a lot of us have been greatly affected mostly due to COVID-19 health guidelines like the closure of bars at 10:00 pm a thing which has caused most of our clients to stop patronizing nightclubs in the process hurting our business."

"That is why we decided to approach our partners and in this case Medicines Sans Frontiers helped us with assorted medical supplies which we decided to donate to Dedza district hospital as one way of combating the pandemic," Matambo added.

According to the Chairperson, the decision to donate to the hospital was made after the association conducted routine inspections in all hotspots where commercial sex workers complained about bad business.

Jones Pensulo, Dedza District Hospital Pharmacist, praised the women for their generosity and encouraged others to follow in their footsteps.

"We have received examination gloves, N-95, and cloth masks so these supplies will take us a long way in combating COVID-19 and this gesture should be commended," he said.

Pensulo added that Dedza DHO was on a campaign to screen critical areas like prisons for COVID-19, so some of the equipment received would be shared with officers from these facilities.

Medicines San Frontiers provided funding for the donation.