Accessing healthcare the unconventional way
In efforts to reduce the spread of Covid-19 among sex workers who are reluctant to access healthcare facilities in Rustenburg; Sisonke made way to Thlabane Clinic to advocate for an improved and welcoming clinic for sex workers too, by appointing a designated nursing sister to attend to sex workers.
Among reasons cited by sex workers to avoid visiting the clinic is the discrimination sex workers face as Rustenburg is an intimate community, where everyone knows the next, apart from the fear of having to face the treating staff after defaulting from their [sex workers] medication.
A partnership between Sisonke, Centre for Positive Care (CPC) and the Department of Health in the Bojanala District visited one of the popular brothels in the area. Sex workers were afforded the opportunity access free healthcare in the form of a creative space (a creative space is an informal workshop among sex workers and Sisonke) where Covid-19 and vaccination was the focal point of the day. It is here that about 110 sex workers registering for vaccination despite not having the relevant required documentation to be registered for the vaccine rollout.