The health effects and moral imperative of funding sex worker programmes

The modelling study, published in The Lancet Global Health, by Loveleen Bansi-Matharu and colleagues,1 adds to the literature on key populations by drawing attention to the potential effect on HIV incidence and cost-effectiveness of programmes targeted specifically to sex workers. The findings provide the necessary backing for relevant policymakers to reconsider their stance on funding programmes for key populations such as female sex workers (FSWs). Current socio-economic and geopolitical constraints, coupled with pressure from the recent COVID-19 pandemic, have placed immense strain on existing programmes.