Dickinson, Regina; Nenita L.Ortega, RMT,MA; JNMC Sescon, MD,DPOGS; Ana de Leon, RN
Remedios AIDS Foundation, Malate, Manila Philippines

FROM SERVICE RECEIVER TO SERVICE PROVIDER:
MODEL FOR BEHAVIOR CHANGE

ISSUE:

In Manila Philippines, there are no registered sex workers, thus most of the women in prostitution are free lancers and street walkers. The local government claims that there are no bars and establishments for prostitution but there are so many of these people working in the sex industry who are roaming around are looking for clients through their pimps. This has always been the scenario and these women come and go in clinics if ever they are infected. They are not so keen about their behavior and their health status. This situation compelled me to become a service provider from being a service receiver. I used to be one of them. Of course I also got infected with an STD and that was a learning lesson for me. I had modified my behavior. I do not want these women to have the same fate as me. I joined an NGO Clinica Remedios as a peer educator doing a lot of street based education and condom lecture and distribution among theses women. I don’t feel tired talking to them about HIV and STD prevention because I believe that it takes an ounce to prevent than tons to cure. I also discuss with them values re-orientation and reformation. Some who wants to pull out from the sex industry, we always have a referral for them that can provide for an alternative livelihood.  What is important is they prevent themselves from getting the infection and they trust me for being their peer educator.

RESULT:

Most of the women reached by our outreach campaign through peer education consult Clinica Remedios for their STD management and treatment. The women are well informed and educated about STD and HIV and hopefully one day I will see them with me converted as a SERVICE PROVIDER FROM BEING A SERVICE RECEIVER.