Based on a small study of the HIV prevalence among sex workers (40+ people) conducted in 2021, Brighter Horizons/SL and Pink Power in collaboration with an american CSO make a larger study (+1,500 people) that can provide strong evidence that can be used for advocacy.
Where: Freetown, Sierra Leone
Background: This intervention builds upon the nightlife testing of 444 active sex workers conducted in 2021 by local partner organisations Pink Power and Brighter Horizons Sierra Leone along with the financial inputs and testing facilities of ICAP[1] – a large US-based health organisation at Columbia University with more than 200 employees currently stationed/working in Sierra Leone. We conducted both daytime (Nichoto approach) and nighttime testing (Moonlight approach) – during Moonlight testing of 240 sex workers we found that 96 were HIV positive illustrating a 40 percentage HIV positive. The Moonlight testing also ensures that we are actually testing sex workers given that a lot of girls selling sex in daytime might not be ‘fully active’ sex workers. Adding to this, even though we spent a lot of time explaining to the girls that they were HIV positive and we could offer them treatment the next day, only 40 per cent of those who were HIV positive showed up to be taken to treatment facilities. One month later when they were offered the next treatment, only 10 per cent showed up. We believe that the lack of trust in both science and authorities is the main reason for this experience and we are aware that we must put in a great effort to change this. Furthermore, given that official data on HIV prevalence among sex workers differentiate a lot from our findings, we have experienced some difficulties in our relationships with key national stakeholders on HIV.