VOICES for Health and Development, in partnership with Family Medical Point (FMP), co-hosted a two-day training on integrating sexual pleasure with safe abortion care. The event, held at K Hotels in Entebbe on January 15-16, 2025, was part of FMP’s “Reimagining Abortion Care and Pleasure for Sex Workers in Fishing Communities” project.
The training aimed to enhance the capacity of FMP and VOICES staff and Community Peer Mobilizers (CPMs) by deepening their understanding of the intersection between sexual pleasure, sex work, and safe abortion care. This joint effort between VOICES and FMP worked to equip participants with the knowledge and tools necessary to provide compassionate, non-judgmental healthcare to sex workers in fishing communities.
Esther Juliet Apio, Team Leader at VOICES, emphasized the importance of the training: “This VCAT training is a critical step in empowering our team to effectively address the complex health needs of sex workers, our primary beneficiaries. By enhancing our skills and knowledge, we are better equipped to provide the holistic, respectful, and compassionate care they deserve.”
Nabwire Poline, Head of Programs at FMP, highlighted the complementary roles played by VOICES in this collaboration: “Our approach is service-based, while VOICES specializes in communication. We believe that VOICES’ expertise in engaging sex workers in conversations about sexual pleasure will perfectly complement our efforts, helping to create a more supportive and inclusive environment for sex workers in fishing communities.”
Both organizations stressed the importance of providing accessible, respectful, and gender-sensitive Comprehensive Abortion Care (CAC) and Post-Abortion Care (PAC) to marginalized groups.
After gaining a deeper understanding of the critical issues facing sex workers, participants were equipped to share this knowledge within their communities. VOICES and FMP remain committed to improving the sexual and reproductive health and rights of sex workers, ensuring they have access to safe, inclusive, and comprehensive care in fishing communities.
