Sex workers fault health authorities over condoms

As government is grappling with drug pilferage in public hospitals, some sex workers at Nkhotakota Boma have questioned alleged sale of condoms by some workers at the district hospital.

The sex workers say the condoms are supposed to be distributed for free, stressing that the sales are forcing them to engage in unprotected sex.

They made the revelation at the end of a week-long workshop on HIV and Aids prevention, cervical cancer and tuberculosis (TB) screening held in Nkhata Bay recently.

One of the sex workers alleged that health workers from Nkhotakota District Hospital sell condoms to sex workers at as low as K10 each and K500 per pack.

“We go to the hospital to collect condoms, but an official from there tells us that they are no longer distributed free of charge. Sometimes he comes here to sell government labelled condoms in our hostels,” she said.

However, reacting to the allegations, the district hospital’s spokesperson Justice Malunga downplayed the claims, saying his office distributes the condoms to drinking joints free of charge.

He said there may be imposters who roam around drinking places selling the condoms without their knowledge and promised to investigate the matter.