Malawi sex workers ask govt for cash help in Covid-19 crisis
Hundreds of sex workers who have been involved in prostitution have asked government to include them in a number of measures aimed at cushioning small- and medium-sized businesses, since they have been ordered out of the streets to prevent spread of Coronavirus (Covid-19.)
Ministrer of Gender, Child Development and Community Development Mary Thom Navicha said all sex workers should move out of the streets to avoid contracting Covid-19.
However, the sex workers said – like other service providers – they will struggle financially, hence call for government to consider them with “rescue packages.”
“ I will need to eat, how will I pay rent to room owner are the questions before me,” said one sex worker only identified as Esther in Blantyre.
Another sex worker using an alia ‘Abiti Chezunana’, who is in her 50s, is worried about how to earn money to sustain her livelihood in these unprecedented times.
But in a statement, minister Navicha announced that the ministry has paid cash for 4 months from March to June 2020 to all beneficiaries of social cash transfer to meet their needs during this difficult period.
The government will also increase loans under the Malawi Enterprise Development Fund that will help micro, small and medium scale businesses that have been seriously affected by the pandemic to 15 billion Malawi kwacha ($20.69 million) from 12 billion kwacha which sex workers can tap into.
The minister noted that cases of child and gender based violence might increase during this time. She advised victims to dial helpline number 5600, and child abuse the victims to dial the child helpline 116.
“In addition, community victim support units should continue to provide essential services using telephone and with safety precautions. Members of the public are encouraged to look out for neighbours and individuals at risk and call the help line mentioned above,” she said.
Malawi has recorded nine cases of the coronavirus and the most recent case has been confirmed this morning.
Mukuthandiza mahule m,malo mogura zipangizo zoti zikuthandizeni hule ndi hule alindi njira zina zopangira ntchito take olo m,makomo m,malo mongowalemba ntchito ngati akufuna Ana anjoka inu stupid gvt m,malo mothandizira atchalitchi munya ndi ndalama za satanic mukudyazo mwavomeleranji matenda amakhala omawaopa usakuwaona m,malo monena chilungamo zimene mwagwilizana ndi Satan mkuliuza dziko ana anjoka maso mphuno mapilikaniro zako usazigwire? Ingotini phe yesu akupezani mkumati mufa anthu 50 thousand munthu obeleka ameneyo kuuza ana ake muyaluka muona Ife tikafa tikalowa inu mukadzafa mukapsa ndi mkulu wanu uja
Mwa anthu amene apangitsa MULUNGU kuti atikwiyile ndikutipatsa chilango ndi maule mwewa.
Amapana ndani kapena amamuika ndani? Mesa iyeyo ndiye wopananyo?
Sex worker in her 50’s? Amamupana ndani ameneyu
Don’t men in their 50s with wrinkly willies have sex? You must be a man who thinks that men should have sex with younger women. How selfish and misogynistic. Both men and women sex drive go down with age. Stop these retrogressive attitudes which look at women as sex commodities. .