“It’s now within me. I can’t settle for one man. At first it
was fun but now I am addicted. It is now part of my DNA,” says Mary, a sex
worker in Harare
Mary is one of the many sex workers who got into the
industry as a result of socialization. The sex worker says she grew up with her
sister in the high density suburb of Mbare Matapi flats and together with her
sister would go to the clubs where they would enjoy watching naked ladies
dancing.
“We would go to the clubs where different dancing groups
would perform during weekends,” she relates.
She says that it is during this time when she thought dancing
was fun and decided to join one of the dancing groups.
“I would marvel at the dancing ladies and I thought that the
ladies were having fun and I decided to join them so that I could equally have
fun,” added Mary.
Mary says that after joining the dancing groups she began to
realize that it was not just dancing but it was more than that.
“After dancing the senior dancers would go with some rich
old men for sex. I did not like it at first but then I was told this was the
way to make money by one of the senior dancers,”
This is how Mary got into sex work and since then she cannot
go for a day without indulging in sex.
“Ever since, different man would come for my services and I
would provide, for a fee obviously. I then became addicted to sex such that a
day cannot pass without having it.
Asked if she was not afraid of HIV/AIDS Mary says that there
is nothing to fear since everyone is going to die one way or the other.
“Why should I be afraid of AIDS when each one of us is going
to die? Whether I contract the disease or I don’t the truth is one day I will
die.”
Mary’s story was so heart touching especially bearing in
mind the findings released by Global Fund that young people are the ones that
are affected and infected by HIV more. Whereas the number of infections and
deaths are decreasing in other age groups, in adolescence the number is
increasing. This is worrisome especially if we think of an HIV free generation.
This shows that socialization plays a big role if we are to
control the spread of HIV. What the children are exposed to can lead them to
experiment and this can be dangerous.
Below are videos of infants performing some sexual dances.
The dances are sexually suggestive and looking at the age of the infants, surely
this becomes worrisome. What will happen to these children by the time they get to 15?
Will they not fell in the same trap as Mary? And if the trend remains like this
will we be able to eradicate this disease?
It is my encouragement that parents or guardians must make
sure that what they expose their children to is good for their upkeep.
Otherwise it will be difficult to deal with HIV.
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