MEC visits Springs
Springs - Gauteng MEC of Health Qedani Mahlangu visited the Springs Hotel last Thursday as part of the Gauteng Aids Council ward visit.
The visit was led byYvonne Mashinini (42) from the Ekurhuleni HIV Unit.
Mahlangu spoke to several sex workers about health-related issues.
With the HIV and Aids prevalence rate being so high, prostitutes are at risk.
In order to curb the rise of HIV infections, Mahlangu explained the importance of practising safe sex.
She asked the sex workers if they have access to health services and whether they utilised these services.
“Sex workers need to practice safe sex to stop the spread of HIV,” says Mahlangu
With the work that they do, it’s important that they have protection at all times.
Questioning the availability of condoms at the hotel, sex workers admitted to regularly receiving condoms.
Another issue Mahlangu addressed was the treatment of HIV-infected sex workers, and she queried whether they received treatment at local clinics and hospitals.
Mashinini explained there is a mobile clinic that visits the area on a monthly basis for sex workers to access health services.
The sex workers explained they are often the victims of ill-treatment by nurses at local clinics and hospitals.
Mahlangu advised them to take the nurses’ names and report them to their superiors.
“They don’t have a right to verbally abuse any person seeking medical attention, no matter what,” says Mahlangu.
