The clinic was set up in to help at-risk and underserved populations such as sex workers. The clinic provides free and bespoke services that include HIV and STI testing, treatment and counselling, contraceptives and comprehensive abortion care.
In her new role, Emebet counsels others about HIV and treatment with anti-retroviral drugs, follows up with them and monitors their treatment. Emebet tries to be a role model for other girls and women who are sex workers to adopt a healthier lifestyle. The best thing is that I know and understand them because I passed through that life.
I know where they live so I can call them and drop medicine at their homes. Over the last five years, her reports show an increase in the number of HIV cases due to more sex workers coming in or changing clinics to attend the confidential clinic. Partly because the staff are friendly towards sex workers, who often report facing stigma in other public hospitals or being turned away when staff hear what they do. At the confidential clinic, people can walk-in any time, which better suits the sex worker lifestyle, but crucially, the service is confidential.
When I came to this clinic I taught people about this place and the services and I counsel and train them. When I got knowledge, I decided I wanted to do something to help others. When Bekele was a sex worker, she would take home about 7, to 8, Birr per month [roughly USD to ], after paying job-related expenses such as hotels, as well as for substances like alcohol to get through it.
As a counsellor, she now gets 2, Birr to cover her travel costs. I have financial problems but life is much more than money. Sometimes we bring them from the streets and test them. Most of them are pregnant and I help them.
