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Costa Rica Has Almost 9.000
Prostitutes, According to CCSS
Doctor
In Costa Rica there are more or
less 8.750 women who dedicate
themseleves to sex work,
according to Dr. Solón Chavarría
Aguiar, who is the co-ordinator
of the HIV program of the Caja
Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS).
Dr. Chavarría said that 2.700
women are currently being
treated for HIV at the Centro de
prevención y control de
infecciones de transmisión
sexual I.T.S.
Dr. Chavarría said that though
the term "sex worker" is applied
to these women, they are not in
fact not recognized as workers
and that doesn't allow these
women labour rights and coverage
under the CCSS. 92% of the
women attended by the Centro are
not insured.
Dr. Chavarría also explained
that 62% of the women seeking
treatment are Costa Ricans,
while 20% are Nicaraguans, 10%
Dominicans, 6% Colombians and 4%
other nationalities.
The age of the women seeking
treatment is between 18 and 56,
the majority being in the 24 to
35 age group. Dr. Chavarría
confirmed that there are a
number of women between the ages
of 15 and 18 and those under the
age of 15 are sent to the
Patronato Nacional de la
Infancia - PANI - the child
protection agency.
Dr. Chavarría added that though
a person may not be insured, the
Centro de Control will always
attend them, because, according
to the doctor, HIV is a public
health problem.
Dr. Chavarría added that when it
comes to sex workers the program
allows an exam every 15 days. In
San José Centro is located in
front of Clínica Bíblica
emergency entrance and there
they attend to all types of sex
workers, including men who offer
their services to men and
transvestites.
The Centro not only provides
free exams to those infected or
those who have doubt and want to
be sure, they also hand out free
condoms to help reduce the
transmission of sexually
transmitted infections. The CCSS
has a project to distribute 5.5
million condoms in the next two
years at CCSS clinics and
hospitals.
Studies by the Centro shows that
out of every 100 women sex
workers, 6 have Syphilis and 1
is HIV positive and of every 100
men sex workers, 6 have Syphilis
and 7 are HIV positive.
"What this means is that you can
find sex workers - both men and
women - who are HIV positive and
their customers have no idea",
said Dr, Chavarría. The
responsibility is up to each
individual, because according to
Ley 7771 del VIH/Sida, the
results are confidential.
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The
incidence of syphilis has
increased and decreased
dramatically in recent years.
Syphilis is caused by Treponema
Pallidum; the first symptoms of
infection may go undetected
because they are very mild and
disappear spontaneously. The
initial symptom is a chancre; it
is usually a painless open sore
that usually appears on the
penis or around or in the
vagina. It can also occur near
the mouth, anus, or on the
hands. If untreated, syphilis
may go on to more advanced
stages, including a transient
rash and, eventually, serious
involvement of the heart and
central nervous system. The full
course of the disease can take
years. Penicillin remains the
most effective drug to treat
people with syphilis.
Learn more about
Syphillis |
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