“Addressing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV needs among key populations: Sex workers - the case of Uganda” took place on Thursday, 18 June 2015.

The German BACKUP Initiative in collaboration with IPPF funded a three-year project, “Shadows and Light”, which addresses the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV needs of key populations at higher risk of HIV within four IPPF Member Associations (MAs). This included a focus on transgender people in India; sex workers in Uganda; people who use drugs in Kenya; and men who have sex with men in Cameroon. 

This webinar series is highlighting the importance of addressing SRH within HIV programmes for key populations, and how Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (Global Fund) is integral to their success and sustainability. Each webinar session will focus on one key population. Facilitated by IPPF and the German BACKUP Initiative, the webinars will be held in cooperation with key population networks or organizations; the Global Fund; and IPPF MAs. The first webinar was held on 26 March: “Transgender People: The Case of India”.

The second webinar focussed on “Sex Workers: The Case of Uganda”. Besides highlighting the importance of SRH and HIV linkages including integrated service provision for sex workers, the webinar aimed to:

• introduce the SRH components of the consolidated WHO guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations, and the Sex Worker Implementation Tool (SWIT);
• discuss the main barriers and challenges sex workers face to access SRH and HIV services; 
• understand how addressing SRH within HIV programmes and services funded by the Global Fund is possible; and
• learn from country-level experiences about successful interventions, challenges and recommendations.

Speakers included Anlina Sheng from the Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP), Denis Bakomeza from Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU), and Ed Ngoksin from The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

The presentation slides are available to download.