23rd November, 2007
Prince Charles to visit AMREF sex workers project in Uganda during CHOGM
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is to visit an AMREF sex workers project during his first visit to Uganda to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
Patron of AMREF UK for 28 years, Prince Charles will visit AMREF’s project in Kawempe slum in Kampala on Friday November 23rd 2007.
Jo Ensor, Chief Executive of AMREF UK says: “AMREF is delighted that HRH The Prince of Wales is to visit Kawempe slum where AMREF is working with sex workers – some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in Uganda. His visit will highlight the challenges these women face protecting themselves from HIV and other diseases and the work that AMREF is doing to help them to keep healthy.”
The project is training sex workers in vocational skills in order to find alternative means of earning a living, educating them on HIV prevention, and providing counselling, family planning and testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
The impact of the work is magnified through local meetings that help the wider community understand the issues surrounding HIV and, most importantly, the difficulties faced by sex workers.
The success of AMREF’s approach in Kawempe has already led to its expansion in the division and to wider recognition of the challenges faced by sex workers and of practical steps that can be taken by the sex workers, by communities and policy makers to reduce HIV prevalence.
During his visit, Prince Charles will meet and hear testimonies from the women involved in the project, including Hamidah Nambajiiwe, a former sex worker. After completing AMREF training courses in tailoring and working as a tailor for two years, she now trains 40 young women, helping them to escape life on the streets as she once did. Hamidah first came to the centre to seek medical treatment after being physically abused by a customer. Now, instead of making money putting herself in danger, Hamidah makes a decent living training at the centre and designing and making stylish African clothes.
Prince Charles will also meet Jane Nabunya, a hairdressing trainer, also a former sex worker. She started working on the streets after she left school with no qualifications and struggled to find a job. Now, she makes a living training 36 young women from Monday – Friday and cutting and styling people’s hair at the weekend. Her dream is to own her own salon.
Joshua Kyallo, AMREF’s country director in Uganda says: “The Ugandan government has no specific policies and programmes to support sex workers. This high-profile visit will highlight the many challenges that are faced by sex workers and people living in slums. ”
For more information contact Louise Orton, AMREF UK’s communications manager, on +44 7939 141 764 (UK mobile) or +256 775864981 (Uganda mobile) or email l.orton@amrefuk.org
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