GO and NGO programs and challenges in addressing health care needs of sex workers in Cagayan de Oro City

• Main Author: Sumalpong, Ann Mique
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2007
• Subjects: Public health; Community health; Public health services; Sex workers > Philippines > Cagayan De Oro; Prostitutes > Philippines > Cagayan De Oro; GO-NGO; Public Health
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3484; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/10322/viewcontent/CDTG004228_P.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study is a qualitative research that aimed to describe the complementarity of health care programs of the Social Hygiene Clinic (GO) and the TISAKA (NGO) to address sex workers health needs and use of health care services in Cagayan de Oro City as well as their problems and strategies in delivering their health care programs. Data were collected through face-to-face interview of selected KIs from GO and NGO and sex workers with the use of semi-structured interview guide as data collection instrument. Results of the study showed that the GOs health care programs to address the health care needs of the sex workers complement with that of the NGO in providing the health care services for the sex workers. Programs, through their GO-NGO partnership, their specific activities and different services offered to the sex workers resulted to their complementation in the delivery of health care services to the sex workers. Analysis of the study shows that the use of preventive health care services offered by the Social Hygiene Clinic to the sex workers reinforces the aspirations of the TISAKA organization to provide the health care needs of its members. Though both organizations experienced similar problems in the implementation of their programs, monitoring and surveillance of the GO and the monitoring and one-on-one counseling of the NGO topped the list of strategies these organizations employed to counter problems they faced in dealing with the sex workers. Despite the challenges, there is consensus that the NGOs participation in the GO activities is essential to successfully develop and manage sex workers health care program in Cagayan de Oro City.