However, assistance came from an unexpected source. A woman who had earlier worked with DMSC suggested that we approach the NGO. After several visits to the DMSC office and gaining entry into the community; winning the confidence of the target community was first on our agenda. We started with a medical camp (general medicine), and since then have been holding a medical camp every month, where check-ups, medicines and even spectacles are provided free of cost to the community.

The sex workers value these camps and an average of 60 patients are being treated at each medical camp. In ‘health camps’ they attended before us, they were often treated for minor ailments like stomach issues, body pain and cold–cough infections. However, it is HIV Aids, STDs, blood sugar issues caused by stress, traumatization and lifestyle that are the main life-threatening diseases. Awareness about HIV aids has been created in the community by DMSC, who have been working there for over 15 years, but there is no resolution in sight because the customers refuse to wear protection, and the women continue with their trade because that is their only means of livelihood. There is a high incidence of imbalance in blood sugar because the sex workers have to drink with their clients and are also exposed to the problems created by extreme poverty, social stigma, exposure to physical violence, and other heinous crimes.