World AIDS Day: Safer Sex Work

A woman watches traffic from an overpass in Yangon, Myanmar. (Maung Nyan/CPI)

When May*, a female sex worker in Yangon, Myanmar, found out she was HIV positive, she was devastated. Limited awareness of HIV, and the illegality and stigmatization of sex work, puts female sex workers and their clients at greater risk. Research indicates that one in six female sex workers in Yangon is HIV positive.

A community organization in Yangon supported by Community Partners International is working to prevent and treat HIV among female sex workers and their close contacts. They helped May come to terms with her diagnosis and are supporting her to receive free antiretroviral therapy (ART). This support helps her stay healthy and reduces the risk of transmission. Watch our short video below to find out more.