Sex workers find themselves at the center of Congo’s mpox outbreak
October 2, 2024
In Kamituga, eastern Congo, the recent mpox outbreak has severely impacted the lives of sex workers. Sifa Kunguja, a 40-year-old sex worker and mother, struggles to regain clients months after recovering from the virus due to lingering stigma. With an estimated 40,000 sex workers in this gold mining hub, health officials report that 80% of mpox cases are sexually transmitted. The outbreak poses significant health risks and threatens livelihoods in a community where poverty drives many single mothers into sex work. Despite the dangers of reinfection and virus spread, many sex workers feel compelled to continue working to support their families.
In the gold mining town of Kamituga, eastern Congo, the recent mpox outbreak has cast a long shadow over the lives of sex workers, exacerbating their already precarious situation. Sifa Kunguja, a 40-year-old sex worker and mother, exemplifies the crisis faced by many in her profession. Four months after recovering from mpox, she struggles to rebuild her client base, battling persistent stigma and fear.
"It's risky work," Kunguja admits from her modest home. "But if I don't work, I won't have money for my children." Her story reflects the dire choices faced by an estimated 40,000 sex workers in Kamituga, many of whom are single mothers driven by poverty to this mineral-rich commercial hub.
Health officials in the region report that approximately 80% of mpox cases in Kamituga have been sexually transmitted, though the virus can also spread through other forms of skin-to-skin contact. The outbreak presents a dual threat to sex workers: endangering both their health and their livelihoods.
Mpox symptoms range from mild fever and body aches to severe cases involving painful blisters on the face, hands, chest, and genitals. Despite the risks of reinfection or spreading the virus, many sex workers like Kunguja feel they have no choice but to continue working to support their families.
The situation is further complicated by the legal ambiguity surrounding sex work in Congo. While not explicitly illegal, related activities such as solicitation are prohibited. Rights groups argue that fear of legal consequences and potential violence prevent many sex workers from seeking necessary medical care, particularly during public health emergencies.
Local health officials are advocating for government intervention, including the temporary closure of nightclubs and mines, coupled with financial compensation for sex workers affected by lost income. Without such measures, they warn, mpox could spread deeper into eastern Congo and the surrounding region, exacerbating an already critical situation for one of the area's most vulnerable populations.