Nkhata Bay, MALAWI — “I don’t want to get pregnant for the next ten years,” says Alinafe Moyo*, a 28-year-old sex worker who lives in Mpamba, a busy area in Nkhata Bay District, about 49 kilometres from Mzuzu.

For Alinafe, this isn’t just a personal wish. It’s something many women in her work understand deeply. The importance of having control over their sexual and reproductive health, safety, and future.

Making a Living, Making Smart Choices

Alinafe supports herself and her teenage child through two jobs: selling clothes and doing sex work. Over the years, she’s worked in different parts of Malawi, including Mzuzu, where she lived for ten years before moving to Nkhata Bay.

“Like any job, mine also means moving around and working in different places,” she says.

For her, access to good health services is a must. She uses contraception, gets tested for HIV regularly, and depends on mobile clinics that come to her area.

Every month, health workers supported by UNFPA, and the Government of Sweden visit her community through the 2gether4SRHR programme. They offer advice, condoms, birth control, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

“These condoms help protect me from infections and pregnancy. They really make a difference,” Alinafe says.

Services That Make a Difference

Alinafe is one of many sex workers who benefit from a project called Moonlight Services. These are special health services brought straight to places like Hango in Mpamba, where sex workers live and work.

Thanks to this programme, Alinafe gets regular HIV tests, counselling, cervical cancer screening, condoms, lubricants, birth control, and information about reproductive health, all in one place.

I’ve never had an STI since I started this work. That’s because the outreach workers come to us and share everything we need to stay safe.

Alinafe isn’t just focused on the present. She’s thinking about her future, too.

“I don’t want to get HIV. That’s why I always use condoms and lubricants. And I really don’t want another pregnancy anytime soon. Not for at least ten years.”

The People Behind the Work

Esther Munthali is one of the outreach workers in Nkhata Bay who supports women like Alinafe. She works closely with Suzeni Kaira, a nurse at Mpamba Clinic, and a team of peer navigators who help connect sex workers with health services.

“Before, it was hard for sex workers to get help between mobile clinic visits,” Suzeni explains. “There were more cases of STIs and unplanned pregnancies. Things are much better now because services are easier to reach and more connected.”

With the help of UNFPA and its partners, the health services are now more consistent and tailored to the needs of women working in high-risk sectors. For these women, having access to care isn’t just about staying healthy. It’s about having freedom, making her own choices, and planning her future.