By Brenna Matendere
For eight years, Angela Madzimbamuto (not real name) has known no other job other than sex work despite all the risks embedded in it like unwanted pregnancies laced with HIV exposure which are induced by the mercurial characters of her clients.
Residing along Simon Mazorodze way in Masvingo, the 33 year old mother of two has succeeded to avoid unwanted babies and maintained a negative HIV status until this day amidst her shaky trade.
Her secret in that success has been use of Dapivirine Vaginal Ring and injectable PrEP services offered at Runyararo clinic.
A vaginal ring is a type of hormonal birth control that is inserted into the vagina and releases hormones to prevent pregnancy. It’s a flexible, plastic ring that contains estrogen and progestin, which are female hormones.
Caption: A pregnant sex worker in Masvingo who could have avoided the unwanted pregnancy through use of vaginal ring
These hormones work to prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary), thicken cervical mucus to block sperm, and thin the lining of the uterus.
“So many of my friends fall pregnant in our trade and end up having to bear unwanted babies and in the process risk contracting HIV. However, I have managed to avoid all that through use of the vaginal ring and am upbeat about that,” said Madzimbamuto.
She has avoided the sight of a pregnant sex worker which is common in Masvingo.
“There are some of us who fall pregnant unintentionally and you will be shocked to see them still coming to solicit for clients even few weeks before giving birth but through use of the vaginal ring, I have never been one of them,” she chronicled.
In addition, Madzimamuto has relied on long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) that is a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention.
It’s an injectable medication administered every two months (after an initial two doses a month apart) that has been shown to be highly effective in preventing HIV infection.
Norest Wurayayi (not real name) has also followed in the footsteps of Madzimamuto.
“Unwanted pregnancies and HIV infection is no longer on the list of my problems due to those two services,” she said.
Although the two services had been paused after the stop-order proclamation by the United States, City Health Director for Masvingo, Suzanne Madamombe confirmed the resumption of CAB-LA and the Vaginal Ring rollout for Key Populations.
“We resumed these programs on the 9th of June. It’s also important to note that clients who were already on the program before the stop-work order have maintained their HIV-negative status. They successfully migrated to oral PrEP without major issues,” she said.
Sheilla Nyoni who is also in sex work and her fellows also enrolled for oral PrEP in 2021 at CESHAR Clinics along Simon Mazorodze but have in earnest migrated to Runyararo Clinic.
“The nurses here have been increasing medication allocations from one to three months and the resumption of injectable PrEP, has helped us a lot to ensure protection,” she said.
Masvingo began implementing KP programs in 2018 through facilities like Mucheke, Rujeko, and Northwest clinics, with the aim of boosting uptake of HIV services and reducing new infections among vulnerable groups.
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