ULA expands HIV prevention, healthcare services for sex workers in AA-held areas

By Admin 27 Feb 2026

DMG Newsroom

27 February 2026, Kyauktaw

The United League of Arakan (ULA)’s Department of Public Health has begun conducting regular health check-ups and providing medical services to sex workers in areas controlled by the Arakan Army (AA) starting in 2026, as part of efforts to curb the spread of infectious diseases.

According to officials from the ULA Department of Public Health, the initiative is being led by its Infectious Disease Control Committee in collaboration with civil society organizations.

The programme includes free health screenings, provision of antiretroviral therapy (ART) drugs, and distribution of condoms.

“We are conducting health check-ups for sex workers every three months. For those without medical records, we are registering them. If a test returns positive, our ART team has a full supply of medication to provide systematic treatment,” an official from the ULA Township Public Health Department told DMG.

The department is also coordinating with local administrative bodies to identify sex workers across Arakan State to ensure access to healthcare services.

In addition to HIV prevention and treatment, the ULA public health department is providing support for other infectious diseases, including tuberculosis (TB) and malaria. Patients travelling to collect TB medication are currently receiving a travel allowance of K10,000 per visit.

The initiative has been welcomed by some Arakanese youth and gender rights activists.

“We welcome this move. Under the military regime, sex workers received no support and were instead repressed and prosecuted under the ‘Prostitution Suppression Act.’ They had no legal protection when abused. This initiative respects their dignity and helps reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS in the state,” a local gender activist said.

Others described the programme as a pragmatic step amid economic hardship caused by ongoing conflict.

“As Arakan State faces severe economic crisis and displacement, the authorities are taking a constructive approach by providing essential support. It appears to be a systematic effort based on ground realities,” a local woman said.

The health initiative comes as economic pressures linked to the military regime’s blockade and rising commodity prices have pushed some conflict-affected and impoverished individuals into sex work.

The ULA said it has been addressing previous shortages of ART drugs in 2024 and 2025 by providing free medication since late 2025. Plans are also under way to incorporate infectious disease education into the curriculum of local high schools.

The ULA is expanding public services across territories under its control, including administrative, judicial and healthcare functions.