Bolivian sex workers, both male and female, are currently on a hunger strike at a health center in El Alto demanding a solution be found to the doctor’s strike that has forced the closure of a number of Bolivian hospitals.

The sex workers have stated that their health and that of the community are at risk because they are not receiving their regularly-scheduled weekly check-ups due to the doctors’ strike. They state that without the check-ups, everyone is at risk of spreading and/or contracting sexually transmitted diseases and even AIDS/HIV.

One of the country’s 45,000 registered sex workers told Aljazeera, “You can’t play with health. It’s a time bomb that is going to explode at any moment. The lives of the entire population is at stake here.”

Those on the hunger strike at were reportedly shouting chants aimed at Health Minister Juan Carlos Calvimontes, saying, “Useless minister, we want a solution!”