FAITH NDOU
MASVINGO CITY-Kuda* male sex worker from Mucheke, Masvingo has applauded Runyararo Clinic for embracing and supporting him without being judgmental describing it as his second home.
Kuda who offers sexual services to both male and female clients across Masvingo Province, said the clinic has been key in supporting his health and wellbeing in a profession often shunned by society.
He said this during the Masvingo provincial media tour organised by the National Aids Council, focusing on key populations in the fight against HIV and AIDS recently.
“Runyararo Clinic is taking care of me health wise. They accept me as I am, and that means a lot in this line of work,” he said.
Driven by economic hardships, Kuda said he ventured into sex work to make a living. He meets his clients through direct calls, at nightspots and from private events.
“This is how I survive. Sometimes clients invite me and sometimes I meet them at parties or clubs,” said Kuda.
He expressed a preference for older female clients particularly those aged 40 and above whom he affectionately refers to as “Madam Bosses” saying they are more respectful and pay better than younger clients.
“I don’t charge everyone the same, it depends on the person, those who look poor I charge like wise and those who flaunt waealth I also charge more and some are very generous and they top up without being asked. Madam bosses can even afford to buy groceries for me, I can push a full trolley and drive home smiling especially after giving them a good service,” Kuda explained with a straight face.
He claimed that he can sleep with up to four or five female clients a day if they are available.
Kuda also provides services to male clients, including both vaginal and anal sex much to the shock of senior journalists and members of staff from both NAC and Council health department.
Kuda revealed that sex workers like him often use rented houses or “bases” for clients who cannot host him for security reasons and secrecy.
While he earns a living through sex work, Kuda’s real passion lies in filmmaking, which he hopes to pursue one day full time one day.
However, he faces challenges related to stigma.
“People judge us but our work is real and our risks are real too,” he said.
He urged fellow sex workers to prioritise their health, regardless of social judgment.
“Don’t die from infections because you fear being judged. Clinics like Runyararo are there to help us, the staff is fantastic and their services are top notch, there is no stigma, we are treated like any other patient. We are so grateful to the staff and management for treating like equal human beings,” added Kuda.
He appealed to the government to consider legal frameworks that protect and recognise sex workers, saying the absence of regulation puts many at risk.
Masvingo City Council Health Services Director, Suzanne Madamombe also revealed that they have resumed provision of critical HIV prevention services including the long-acting-injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) after the stop work order by USA’s Donald Trump early this year.
CAB-LA is an injectable form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), administered to people who are negative for HIV. The first two injections are given one month apart, and then doses are administered every two months thereafter. CAB-LA is a highly effective and safe alternative to oral PrEP for people at substantial risk of HIV infection, particularly for those who struggle with daily pill adherence.
Madamombe also added that they have also started rolling out vaginal ring for key populations through community led monitoring (CLM).
Runyararo Clinic has a catchment area of 28 000 residents and plays a key role in the fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS in Masvingo City.
Runyararo also benefited from the prior training program for nurses and community health workers who are now implementing community models and conducting patient follow ups.
“We are fortunate to have retained most of our trained staff. They are now training others, though we still need more capacity building to strengthen KP services.
“We have also trained nurses to support adolescent KP particularly those living with HIV, by establishing adolescent support groups,” said Madamombe.
Munorwei Munyikwa, NAC Masvingo provincial monitoring and evaluation officer lauded KP friendly services at Runyararo Clinic.
“Runyararo Clinic is an illustrative health facility where we have trained a number of health care workers to provide KP friendly services with sufficient funding, our goal is to ensure every health care worker receives training to serve key vulnerable populations, he said.
Kuda also encouraged university students and others battling sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis to seek help at Runyararo Clinic, which he said provides care to everyone without discrimination.
Despite the harsh realities of his profession, Kuda says the kindness and support from the clinic keeps him going.
“Runyararao Clinic is my second home.”
*not his real name
