Writhing in agony in a wooden structure that resembles a chicken run, which she calls her house, Natasha (16) is suffering from a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI).This is the second time that she has suffered the same ailment in six months.
By Elia Ntali
Her twin sister Natsai is expecting to have a baby in 6 months time. It is no easy ordeal for the sisters who stay in the densely populated suburb of Hopley, south of Harare.
Every evening, Natsai and other young girls outwit each other in the hunt for clients. As for the former, her movements are restricted because of her sister’s illness. The other girls will go as far as Mbudzi bus terminus in search of potential clients.
“Prostitution is the only way out for us to survive; I need to take care of my bed- ridden sister. As you can see I am pregnant. Where would I get the money to support myself and my sister” says Natsai.
Natasha and Natsai became sex workers at the age of 13 after years of abuse at the hands of their brother-in-law, following the death of their parents in a road accident.
Child prostitution is a growing problem not only in urban areas but the nation at large. A hidden history of child prostitution may lie behind the myriad of social problems that afflict many children around the country, from the high rate of depression to that of homelessness.
Child prostitution is mostly common in poverty stricken areas. Because it’s covered in secrecy there are no easy solutions to its powerful and long lasting legacy.
Though social, cultural, and economic factors contribute to child prostitution through gender bias, discrimination, and poverty, the long-term impact of child prostitution is rarely given a second thought when politicians and policymakers discuss issues related to the girl child.
According to a report compiled by the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV /AIDS Research (CeSHHAR) last year, sex work is common in Zimbabwe with 20 percent of the women surveyed having started selling sex before they turned 20 years of age.
Other causes of child prostitution include violence against women and children; concealment of incest and rape; discrimination and devaluation of women and children; and greed. In times of drought young girls are forced to venture into prostitution to source for food.
Furthermore, lack of awareness of the rights of children is the biggest contributing factor.
What is worrying is that most of these young girls are putting their health at risk as they charge paltry sums depending on whether there is protection or not.
“We charge $1 per session and if you want our services for the whole night, the minimum charge is $5 with protection and $10 without protection” said another girl who identified herself as Rutendo.
Article 34 of he United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, of which Zimbabwe is a signatory, requires “states to protect children from sexual exploitation, including prostitution and involvement in pornography”
Last year’s Constitutional Court ruling to outlaw arbitrary arrest of women on allegations of soliciting for paid sex on the streets has led to an increase in the number of sex workers and most of them are children, as there has been less effort to make sure that people under the age of 18 are prohibited from night spots.
Many organisations have been battling against child prostitution through advocacy, information dissemination as well as the provision of health services to girls and women.
Stigmatization and discrimination are some of the major barriers to health access by child sex workers at some hospitals and clinics in the country
“We are victims of insults at clinics and hospitals and we are told that we will be wasting resources by frequenting these institutions” said Rutendo.
Child prostitution has cascaded to young girls on the streets with many getting pregnant and STI infections, says Destiny for Women and Youth Empowerment Trust, Director Mrs. Sharlotte Mutimaamba.
“We do give food to children on the streets and most of those who visit us are males. Rarely do you see girls because they are involved in prostitution and they are very young with ages ranging from seven to thirteen years” said Mutimaamba
“STD concerns are a common feature and they come here to seek treatment. They come mainly from Epworth, Hopley and Mbare” she said
She said in an effort to help these children access free treatment her organisation has engaged Population Services International (PSI).
“In the past PSI wanted a dollar for treatment of each child. Because we are resource incapacitated, we engaged them so that these children get free treatment” said Mutimaamba.
According to Mrs. Mutimaamba Insufficient records exist on the health complications faced by child prostitutes; these children are at high risk of communicable diseases, pregnancy, mental illness, substance abuse, and violence.
According to a report compiled by Youth Information and Education for Behaviour Change (YIEBEC) child prostitution, like other forms of abuse, is not only a cause of Aids-related deaths and high morbidity, but also a gross violation of children’s rights and dignity.
Living conditions are unhygienic and cramped, sometimes with inadequate food and medical care.
In more extreme cases the young girls carry out self induced abortions with no medical attention. This results in internal physical damage and sometimes death.
“In some cases the young girls are exposed to substance abuse, consequently developing drug or alcohol dependency” said the YIEBEC report.
Most of the child prostitutes said they felt rejected by other people because of their activities.
Therefore there is need for strategies and interventions to mitigate such health consequences
Health professionals can assist through identifying contributing factors, recording the magnitude of child prostitution and health effects of the problem. They can also facilitate rehabilitation of children who would have escaped prostitution.
This will in turn help government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to implement policies, laws, and programmes that mitigate the effects of the scourge.
What is required is to influence change in thinking through educating people about destructive effects of child prostitution.
With drought upon us the problem of child prostitution is likely to worsen. There is need to come up with measures that will protect the girl child and also minimize the spread of HIV and Aids.
