By Winnie Kamau
An acute shortage of Lubes amongst sex workers in Mombasa County has caused an outcry in Mombasa. Sex workers, both female and male have raised an alarm over the serious shortage. This was raised during a health workshop held by KELIN-Kenya a Human Rights organization that advocates for rights to health for all.
Lubricants are a key component for usage among the Key Populations and especially the sex workers. It is reported that when they lack lubricants they resort to using other rudimentary options like Blue band margarine and saliva while on duty.
The sex workers are requesting for the Lubes to be made readily available by the County government instead of the National Government which has been supplying them.
Speaking to Miriam Andebe one of the Sex workers who explains her plight in the Swahili language “Sisi twaumia, mafuta na mate zina choma condom. Kuna matawi wengine wetu wanatumia wanaponda na zinateleza. Ikiwa dry sana condoms zinapasuka” (We are suffering, we end using oil and saliva which burn condoms. We even use some herbals leaves which we pound and they are slippery. When it’s too dry condoms end up bursting) says, Miriam.
The condoms and lubes are distributed to the counties by Keya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) they said.
Max Louis of PEMA Kenya which is a gender sexual minority advocacy organization noted that “Yes there are no lubes and there’s a high possibility of wrong things being used which will lead to an increased condom burst leading to increased STIs and HIV infections”.
Miriam explains the reason why there’s the need to use the lubes “Lubes saa hii hakuna sex workers wako na shida kwa sababu unaenda na mtu bila feelings lube ndio yasaidia penetration ndio kusikuwe na mchibuko” (There are no lubes and sex workers are in trouble because when one has sex with someone without feelings, the lubes will help to prevent the breaks).
Mirriam adds “Tunataka lubes nyingi wasingoje ziishe ndio watafute nyingine” (We need many lubes the government should not wait for the lubes to run out and start looking for others).
The key populations (Key Pops) comprised of female sex workers, male sex workers and also the LGBTI community access the reproductive products through Dropping Centres. In Mombasa County, there are 4 Dropping Centres which are safe spaces for the Key Pops to access health services, share ideas, and get access to the lubes and condoms.
Marilyn Laini from High Voice Africa which is an advocacy organization on health focused on young sex workers noted: “We are asking for distribution of lubes to be devolved.”
Adding “There’s a shortage of lubes and we have to wait for them to come from Nairobi and once they are here they are first targeted to the Men having sex with men (MSM’s) then given to the Female sex workers who do anal sex before it is distributed to the other female sex workers”
The sex workers are urging the use of lubes as they at times receive a high volume of clients to more than 10 in a day and it does assist in their work.
Marilyn says in High Voice Africa she has seen that for the young girls who join as sex workers say it is the easiest and fastest way to make money. But Marilyn says she is able to advocate for other income generating activities for the young sex workers to help supplement for their activities.
Currently, the organization has bought 75 broiler chickens and want to upscale into egg hatching broilers which will help supplement their activities. They also have some of the sex workers joining universities as they try to change their lifestyles “We have girls coming from all religions and some are going back to school to study and get degrees” says Marilyn.
Speaking to KELIN Kenya they urged the government to provide lubes urgently “Lubricants are a health intervention and are key to reducing new HIV infections among the heterosexuals and gay communities. It is important for the government to prioritize the provision of lubes in this communities in the counties” said Ted Wandera a Program Officer of Key Populations at KELIN Kenya.
