De Leon, Ana B. RN, Remedios AIDS Foundation, Malate Manila Philippines

MOBILIZING FREELANCE SEX WORKERS AS PEER EDUCATORS
TOWARDS COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FOR HIV/AIDS PREVENTION:
THE CLINICA REMEDIOS EXPERIENCE

ISSUE:

Freelance sex workers are "hard to reach" clienteles in terms of HIV/AIDS/STD prevention and are at highest risk of contracting the disease. Often times, sex workers are stigmatized, discriminated by society hence, has led to their diminished health seeking behaviour.

METHODOLOGY:

The establishment of Clinica Remedios right in the heart of the red light district of Manila is a very strategic place to start the intervention. The clinic itself is considered a model health establishment and has its innovative features with program interventions that guarantees anonymity, confidentiality among clienteles thereby removing stigma and discrimination among sex workers.

RESULTS:

Clinica Remedios has served 40 percent of the broader community clients, while 60 percent were workers within the sex industry and their clients availing of Clinica Remedios health services. To date, about an average of 1000 sex workers per year has been reached by the project. From this, a total of forty (40) people from the sex industry were recruited as peer educators of the program. This is the soul of success of the Clinica Remedios program. Expanding its reach through establishing an organized group of sex workers is currently being undertaken by Clinica Remedios so as to prepare the community to advocate for their needs. Clinica Remedios envisions an organized group of sex industry workers that will eventually advocate, lobby and fight for their needs and rights.