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It should be pointed out that the sex workers in this study work on the street and conductbusiness primarily in rented rooms. Some of them say condoms are available in theserooms. It is a matter of grave concern that HIV-positive sex workers are continuing towork and, despite all the past years of IEC on prevention, their clients do not want to usecondoms. As one accurately summed up, “Men give…we receive. Whatever… Man….isstill the source”.In terms of quality of healthcare, there were distinct differences ascribed to the careprovided by doctors, particularly specialists in public tertiary hospitals, and that providedby nurses. With few exceptions, PLHIV participants commended their doctors ascompetent, understanding and non-discriminating professionals. There were a fewexceptions. One man told of an incident when a doctor in a private hospital informed hisemployer about his HIV diagnosis without his consent, which led to his forcedresignation. There was another who was insensitive in requesting for a “bio-hazard”assessment before attending to him. There was also another complaint from a womaninfected partner about a doctor who estimated the time she had left to live at three monthssoon after her diagnosis, leaving her feeling hopeless and worried about her children.In contrast to the general praise for doctors, there were many complaints about nursingstaff, such as, nurses who just left bed-ridden and severely ill patients to themselves,unable to eat, clean or take medications, there were those who did not want to touchthem, who told their family members or others about their HIV without their consent, andthose who were not competent in nursing. Quoting one participant, “they have noconfidence in what they have learned [about HIV].” Nurses are in the front-line ashealthcare providers and have the most interactions with patients. Hence, the quality oftheir care is significant.Counselling is a service that slightly over half of the PLHIV (based on the surveyfindings) in this study received. Most of this comprised post-test counselling, and only aquarter received pre-test counselling. Furthermore, it emerged that more women thanmen received pre-test or both pre- and post-test. This is because some of the DU menhad been tested and diagnosed in prison or a drug rehabilitation centre, and none of theheterosexual, MSM or refugee men had received pre-test counselling.The study also found that HIV testing is done as a routine procedure in prison and drugrehabilitation centres with no pre-test nor post-test counselling. The study participantswho had been in prison, either for drugs or sex work, said that they were informed oftheir positive results “just like that” and given a referral letter upon release for thepurpose of medical follow-up. Whether or not the released HIV-infected prisoners go forfollow-up is left up to the individual. It is not surprising that most of those who go backto using drugs upon release from prison tend not to bother with follow-up medical care.In the same way, drug dependent sex workers just go back to the streets intent upongetting clients to get money for their next drug fix.NGOs provide much needed services in the form of drop-in centres and outreach. Therewere several voices, especially from men among DU and MSM participants, stating howmuch they benefited from HIV-positive persons who have gone through similarexperiences. Clearly, the infected women partners benefit too.128