1.3%
prevalence of HIV in adults
Ethiopia
23%
level of HIV infection among sex workers
2,200
estimated number of new HIV infections in 15-19-year-olds
Of Ethiopia’s nine regions, Afar is particularly susceptible to natural and human-made disasters, such as flooding, drought, intercommunity conflicts and epidemics.
Sex workers subjected to gender-based violence
In Ethiopia, VIH
disproportionately affects certain groups, especially sex workers, 23% of whom are HIV positive (EPH 2014). They are among those most at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections, being subjected to violence and being excluded from social services. Despite this, there are no reliable official data on the numbers of sex workers in Ethiopia, nor on how many of them have experienced gender-based violence (GBV).
An alarming level of gender-based violence is perpetrated against prostitutes
The exploratory mission undertaken by Médecins du Monde along the commercial route from Addis Ababa to Djibouti in 2017 highlighted an alarming level of GBV perpetrated against sex workers. In addition, the lack of GBV prevention services and care and treatment for survivors means access to healthcare and rights is extremely difficult for this group. As a result, MdM decided to work with sex workers along the route between Addis Ababa and Djibouti, focusing on the Afar region.
Our activities in Ethiopia
Promoting access to healthcare and rights for sex workers
In October 2018, Médecins du Monde started to implement a programme in partnership with Nikat Association (an Ethiopian community-based organisation of sex workers) and other institutional partners, such as the Regional Health Bureau (RHB) and the Women’s Affairs Bureau. The programme began by recruiting 18 women as peer educators and training them to lead awareness-raising sessions for prostitutes on GBV, HIV prevention and condom use.
Medical interventions are delivered by MdM partner, the Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia (FGAE).
We also support a number of health centres, as well as clinics specifically for prostitutes, with the aim of improving medical, social and psychosocial care, particularly for those who have experienced violence.
 Ethiopie |
In 2019We:
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our institutional support
History
1997
Support for primary healthcare in the Afar region, in the district of Dubti. Programme closed in 2000.
2000
Surgeon training programme opened in Addis Ababa and Aksum.
2008
Primary healthcare intervention in the Somali region. Programme closed in 2011.
2014
Programme launched to combat genital mutilation.
2015
Programme of support for Eritrean refugees.
2017
One-off response to a cholera outbreak in several districts in Afar region.
2018
Emergency cholera response and launch of sex worker programme along the route between Addis Ababa and Djibouti.
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