HIV/AIDS authorities target sex workers

While prostitution is illegal in Dominica, the crime is being practiced. As such, a member of the National HIV/AIDS Response Unit has said that sex workers on the island are being targeted as individuals that require education on the deadly disease.

Monitoring and Education Officer with responsibility for Social Work within the National HIV/AIDS Response Programme, Kervel David, said the Ministry of Health has a right to protect the health of all citizens despite the fact that prostitution is illegal.

“From the public health perspective, we have a right to protect the life and health of all citizens. Regardless of whether or not sex work is a crime we all have to work with them. When you work with sex workers what you are giving them are the skills to protect themselves, their partners and their clients,” she said.

David made the remarks on the Women’s Magazine Programme on Kairi FM.

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15 Comments

  1. Blah Blah Blah
    December 10, 2010

    Yeah man everyone should get tested not just the sex workers…the world’s oldest profession. trust me if they didn’t have them…more animals will get …. So good work people, test the sex workers but test everyone too including all school children!!!

  2. MASTER CHIEF
    December 10, 2010

    UNDER U ALL HIGH GO AND DO NONSENSE TOUCHING DOES SKOOL GAIL’S
    AND U WILL NO WAT TIME IT IS.

  3. MASTER CHIEF
    December 10, 2010

    FIRE AS LONG I SEE U WITH CANNABIS U IN TROUBLE WITH ME.

  4. FIRE
    December 10, 2010

    JAIL FOR WEED.MURDER BY AIDS OK.POLICE BOYS IS COOL DON’T TOUCH THOSE GIRLS.

  5. MangoSweet
    December 10, 2010

    Excellent initiative by the National HIV/AIDS Response Unit. Seeing new “clubs and bars” opening up in the city like mushrooms after heavy rains. BTW, Did you see the Classified Ad in a local newspaper, where a local business place is offering for sale “maximum strength MALE GENITAL ENHANCEMENT PILLS, and FEMALE GENITAL TIGHTENING gel? And even a cream for women to enlarge their HIPS?

  6. Channel 1
    December 9, 2010

    But what i hearing dere naaah? Am i to understand that the persons involved in these activities are not already conscious to the fact that what they are doing is wrong and the numerous risks associated with such activities?

    By the way if prostitution is against the laws of the land, then why aren’t the persons involved in such activities arrested? Why won’t the relevant authorities cease from dealing lightly with such crimes and instead seek to implement decisive measures geared towards stamping out such anti-social practices from among us. Instead of combating the problem, it would seem that the authorities are now looking for safer ways for persons to engage in the crime of prostitution.

    I won’t be suprised if calls for the legalization of prostitution eventually become stronger under the disguise that its legalization is the best way to prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading. Look nonsense in this world. But who really behind these kinds of twisted ideas and agendas?

  7. STRONG REDD
    December 9, 2010

    All LABOURITES are asked to converge under the Financial Center on the morning of December 17 in recognistion of the December 18 ELECTIONS VICTORY to as a means of remindig the UWP that we are solid and should finally accept defeat

    Green being bewilered needs a dose of reality.

    I am calling on all of our people, all of them, to put on something RED – ALL citizens patriots, women, youth , farmers, workers unemployed. Dominicans we’re calling on you to assemble, to gather, to come out in large numbers on Friday the 17th of December at 10 a.m. in front of the Financial Center. For an Aniversary Gathering. We gan make them wet their pants!!!!

    WE DECLARING FRIDAY DECEMBER 17TH AS RED DAYYYY IN DOMINICA!!!!!!!

    WHERE SOMETHING RED and ASSEMBLE UNDER FINACIAL CENTRE AS A SIGN OF SOLIDARITY TO OUR GOVERMENT

    IS TIME WE MAKE A STATEMENT AS LABOURITES

    ITS TIME THE UWP DIGEST THE 18-1 VICTORY

    • wow
      December 9, 2010

      i think you should post that comment on all DNO stories

      • Anonymous
        December 9, 2010

        Been doing just that.

  8. damian charles
    December 9, 2010

    Isn’t this aiding an abetting criminal behaviour? Wow. But where are these commercial sex workers and what are the demographics? Are they just the spanish, the haitians or are locals involved in the sex trade as well? Inquiring minds want to know

  9. closed minded
    December 9, 2010

    we say sex workers is tax free employment (lol ) any way when i was young growing up in dominica i never knew that d/a have tax free workers and getting older i learn that it do but as for now we have many much more because of the different nationalities on the island some is their culture but that is a good vibes because they need to no all the gro boug that going and sleep with them then go home to their wife need the protection all the best and good luck finding them to come to your meeting

    • G
      December 10, 2010

      Tax depends on your salary. The higher the salary the more tax you pay.So not only non-nationals and sex workers don’t pay tax.

  10. FAM BEFF
    December 9, 2010

    SEX WORKERS? DEFINE THAT TERM PLEASE AND HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO THE SEX WORKERS ARE? BOTH MEN AND WOMEN MAKING BUM, POTS AND PANS UNDERCOVER…..SO YOU ALL JUST GONNA GO BY HEAR-SAY THEN?

    • concerned child
      December 9, 2010

      @fam beff, lol are you scared they show up at your door? i was told once that a good education never rots. so the more people getting the message the better ….

      • FAM BEFF
        December 9, 2010

        NAH MAN CHICA, I’M ON A DIFFERENT LEVEL BABE…..BUT YOUR COMMENT MAKES ALOT OF SENSE THOUGH. :wink:

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