Accelerating empowerment of female sex workers in Angola

Reaching key populations with prevention, care, and treatment services is critical to Angola’s fight against HIV. Weekly peer support groups for female sex workers help address structural barriers, such as gender-based violence (GBV), that put them at higher risk for HIV infection.

This work starts at ‘hot spots’, venues where female sex workers gather to meet or work. There, they are invited to join the support group by HIV prevention outreach workers from MSH’s partner, local civil society organization ASCAM – the Associação de Solidaridade Cristã & Ajuda Mútua.

LINKAGES in Angola works with the government, community-based organizations, key populations, and health care providers to expand their ability to plan and deliver services that reduce HIV transmission. MSH serves as the operating partner for LINKAGES, a cooperative agreement funded by PEPFAR and USAID and led by FHI360. With additional support from the Global Fund through the United Nations Development Fund, MSH and ASCAM worked together to integrate GBV prevention and linkage to care within the minimum package of HIV services for FSWs offered at hot spots.