honorable mention
Isabel Corthier belgium
title
The sex workers on the frontlines of the HIV response
However, Malawian health system lacks specific strategies to prevent and treat HIV among sex workers. Stigma and discrimination from health workers keep many away from health centres. Some policies actively prevent HIV-positive sex workers who move around from staying on regular treatment, by limiting their access to ART (medical treatment).
Sex work remains illegal in Malawi so sex workers bear the brunt of criminalizing, stigmatising attitudes and often violence in their daily lives (from police, clients, bar owners) which further affects their mental and physical health and well-being.
Since 2014, Médecins Sans Frontières has been working with Malawi's ministry of health and partners to increase healthcare for sex workers, including access to condoms and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), a drug which reduces the risk of HIV transmission.
Malawi, January 2019
Together with her husband she goes around the world where she works as a photographer and as a logistician for MSF, Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders). While working on the field, she is making portraits of the people she encouters.
In between these missions, Isabel makes photoreportages for NGO’s like Médecins sans Frontières, Caritas, Trias, Vredeseilanden (VECO), Louvain Coopération and Ondernemers voor Ondernemers.
Some of her photos have been shown in exhibitions in China, India, Belgium and some pictures have won awards.
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entry description
Malawi has one of the world's highest rates of HIV, with sex workers considerably more likely to contract the infection. Rates of unwanted pregnancy and STI infections are also high.However, Malawian health system lacks specific strategies to prevent and treat HIV among sex workers. Stigma and discrimination from health workers keep many away from health centres. Some policies actively prevent HIV-positive sex workers who move around from staying on regular treatment, by limiting their access to ART (medical treatment).
Sex work remains illegal in Malawi so sex workers bear the brunt of criminalizing, stigmatising attitudes and often violence in their daily lives (from police, clients, bar owners) which further affects their mental and physical health and well-being.
Since 2014, Médecins Sans Frontières has been working with Malawi's ministry of health and partners to increase healthcare for sex workers, including access to condoms and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), a drug which reduces the risk of HIV transmission.
Malawi, January 2019
about the photographer
Isabel Corthier (°1977, Belgium) is a freelance photographer. She works in Belgium and abroad on reportage and portrait photography.Together with her husband she goes around the world where she works as a photographer and as a logistician for MSF, Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders). While working on the field, she is making portraits of the people she encouters.
In between these missions, Isabel makes photoreportages for NGO’s like Médecins sans Frontières, Caritas, Trias, Vredeseilanden (VECO), Louvain Coopération and Ondernemers voor Ondernemers.
Some of her photos have been shown in exhibitions in China, India, Belgium and some pictures have won awards.
back to gallery
