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by Beatrice Awino
"This is the story of Margaret Njeru, a former commercial sex worker, who is a frequent visitor to one of WiRED's health information centers in Kenya. She is educating her former colleagues and friends who are still in the business on the measures they must take in order to protect themselves from AIDS and sexually-transmitted diseases. She says being in the business is not an easy task as they face grave challenges and abuse mostly from their clients. The rest of the community members discriminate against them and their children and they are cast aside without being given protection and education. Commercial sex workers are human and need protection and education just like everyone else. They need to be made aware of the ways they can protect themselves against HIV."
— Beatrice Awino
Margaret's Story
I ran away from home when I was 16 because my mother was an alcoholic and I never knew my father. I was hungry for adventure. People used to say that I was beautiful. I used to go to discos and get in free with only my smile. I had several boyfriends who used to give me money and gifts. By the time I was 17, I was spending a lot of time going to doctors to get treated for STD's. It's very painful to have STD's, and men don't like sick women.
Finally, I met a man who seemed to like me very much. He promised to pay my rent and give me money and clothing, so long as I did not go out with other men. It didn't seem like a bad idea at the time. He lived in Nairobi (Kenya's capital city), and used to visit me once or twice a month. I still had a few other boyfriends, but I always used condoms with them.
After about five months of being with him, I got pregnant and gave birth to a beautiful girl. I was only 18 at the time. The man left me, but he kept sending money for child support. I started receiving clients at home and they paid me good money. My daughter and I always had what we needed, but deep down in my heart, I wasn't happy.
Then, I began seeing my friends getting sick and there were rumors about AIDS. I never thought I was at risk.
I met a woman named Sarah, and we became very good friends. She had been in the sex worker business, but had given it up since her health was slowly deteriorating due to frequent illness. I took her to the hospital to get her some help; but, there was no improvement in her condition. Finallly, she told me she had AIDS. I was so depressed, but I pulled myself together because I knew Sarah needed me to be strong.
My friends and I (who were all in the same business) formed a women's group . AIDS was killing all of us and we knew it. Although we were all convinced by the dangers of AIDS, we still needed a way to earn a living. We started a business that would generate income, and after some time, we applied for a loan so that we could continue the project and help our friends at the same time. I moved out of my former residence, discontinued contact with my previous clients, and got a new boyfriend.
Life was going really well for me, and then Sarah was admitted to the hospital. Two weeks later, she died. We buried her, but she is in my thoughts every day. Her son stays with my daughter and me. Now I go around talking with commercial sex workers and warning them about AIDS. For me personally, I am happy in a relationship with one man.
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