Ninety-seven of 309 male and female registered sex workers who underwent examination at the Bacolod City Health Office this month were found to have sexually transmitted diseases, Digna Marquez of the CHO Sanitation Division said yesterday.
Marquez said that some of these RSWs work as waiters and waitresses in entertainment bars.
She said those found to have STDs are now being treated by the CHO and the city government of Bacolod is providing their medicines.
The RSWs undergo medical examination every week to ensure that none of them have STDs before they are issued pink cards.
As for the freelance sex workers, they do not undergo regular medical examination and they will know only that they are infected by STDs if the police arrest them and obliged them to undergo medical tests.
The Bacolod City Police Office has earlier launched a massive campaign against sex workers, especially at the Public Plaza while the MassKara Festival is ongoing.*APN back
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