As Rosita leaves Jose's small office in downtown Cebu in the central Philippines, he passes her a handful of biscuits and six clean needles. What Jose has just done could land him in jail.
Rosita is a pregnant, HIV-infected injecting drug user — and Jose is a social worker. Amidst Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs — in which nearly 3,000 people have been killed, according to police — it is safer to be anonymous. Neither wants to give their real name.
Clean needles have been distributed in Cebu City for years, sometimes illegally, in order to prevent the spread of HIV. Under the new government, which took office at the end of June, pressure is increasing for such clandestine activities to stop.
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