My organization runs an HIV outreach programme targeting HIV-positive sex workers and/or crack-cocaine users who live in the slums and favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

In many parts of the world, there is a significant overlap between populations of sex workers and drug users (DU), and, more recently, between crack cocaine use and unprotected commercial sex. In settings as diverse as India, China, Indonesia, Russian Federation, and Ukraine, the HIV epidemic has rapidly spread among sex workers and/or DU and HIV prevalence has been as high as 70% in some sex workers and DU populations. More...