For years Nyambura knew not any other source of income. She
started selling sex at the tender age of 16 to feed her poor parents and pay
for her secondary education. Immediately after finishing her high school
examinations in 2005, she took the first bus to Mombasa-in hope of making it
big in sex trade. A friend residing in the city had once told her of how lucrative this business was over there.
In Mombasa, life fell short of her expectations. Instead of
making a quick buck and living it big, The 26 year then only 19 years old, had to put up with a friend who shared her one
roomed apartment with six other women-all sex workers-not to mention the constant harassment from police
,uncooperative clients and fights with other twilight girls sprawling the
Sabasaba street-a sex trade haven in Mombasa.
Today, Nyambura-says she is alive because of a decision she
made in 2010.That year, she followed a friend to a group meeting in her
neighborhood .She liked the discussion as the girls spoke openly about their
issues and in the end she got free condoms.
“My friend asked me
to accompany her to one of the sessions. I enjoyed being in their company so I
joined them. ” explains Nyambura
Through the group she has been involved in behavior change
programs with adequate access to information on HIV and STI prevention, care
and treatment services. She learned how to protect herself from disease
infection and where to go for treatment. In addition she runs her own home-made
soap business from skills she acquired from her peers. Now, Nyambura uses
proceeds from her business to fend for her two children-something she is really
grateful for.
Since her exposure to health programs, Nyambura works
closely with Community health workers and the local administration from her home
area in hygiene and community health sensitization programs. She is
now a respected community member.
Although she has not completely stopped sex work, Nyambura
is grateful that that she does not rely on it anymore. She distributes condoms
to other sex workers and sensitizes them on its proper use and HIV care and
treatment services.
