Socio economic impact of COVID-19 towards people living with HIV and key population: Rapid assessment report

The impacts of COVID-19 pandemic have caused more burdens to vulnerable groups who have previously faced challenges in fulfilling their basic needs, such as access to health and economy. Moreover, the stigma and discrimination that they face as people living with HIV and key population have made it more difficult to access social assistance due to administrative matters.

In some people, even COVID-19 has a major impact on livelihoods. A survey from several organizations found that there was a lot of income inequality from the conditions between before and during the pandemic.

As in the survey conducted by Jaringan Indonesia Positif (JIP) about the needs of PLHIV in the context of COVID-19, it affects most of respondent’s livelihood.

The survey found that almost 30 per cent respondents lost source of income, 25 per cent were incapable of fulfilling basic needs,
and 5 per cent were unable to pay rent.

Data raised by Sanggar Swara, transwomen community in Greater Jakarta area, also shows that approximately 640 respondents depended on sex workers and/or street songsters (buskers) as source of income. Many key populations have lost their source of income and unable to fulfil their basic needs as well.