Actionaid‘s Lutfun Nahar is unfortunately, accustomed to the troubling scenes within the walls of the Bangladesh brothels where she works with sex workers almost daily.  While Lufan is aware that there is a problem with underage workers and trafficking within Bangladesh’s 17 brothels, there is a new tool that may make it even harder to spot the girls working amongst the adults.

A dangerous drug is making its way to female sex workers and it is a double threat.  Not only does this new drug have horrific effects on a woman’s health and body, it also functions to make girls look older and make it harder to discern age, leaving girls hidden in the body of legally employed adults.

Oradexon is a steroid traditionally used to fatten up cattle and is being used by sex workers, some as young as 12 to make them larger and therefore more attractive to their clients.  The extra bulk also functions to make them appear older, thus the appeal to desperate girls and greedy madams.

“I remember thinking, there are all these bulky girls here – how did they get like that?” Nahar said. “And then I asked around and someone told me they were all taking a drug called Oradexon, which is the same preparation used for cows, to make them fatter.”

In a country where many are undernourished, the desirable body shape is round and larger, in contrast to the majority of the world who typically crave slender figures.  Oradexon, readily available from pharmacies (Bangladesh doesn’t use prescriptions and women can simply request it over the counter) offers quick and easy weight gain.  However, the drug increases blood pressure, gives young women diabetes, rashes and serious headaches and is highly addictive.

Dr Bashirul Islam, head of the healthcare services in Faridpur, added: “This drug often causes a kidney failure which can lead to a premature death of the patient.”

It is given to the workers by their madams or keepers; “Here in Bangladesh the girls must be 18 to do this work. But this drug means the pimps are able to get girls who are as young as 12 or 13 – many of them have been trafficked, and have nowhere else to go – and make them look much older.” Nahar adds.

Actionaid has discovered that 90% of females in Bangladesh brothels are using this drug, all between ages 15-35. Actionaid is working hard with its campaign to help those who are addicted and preventing new users from becoming hooked. ActionAid’s campaign aims to raise awareness of the drug’s dangers.

A spokesperson for Actionaid describes the strategy; “We are creating awareness amongst the sex workers about the drug’s side effects. We are also holding meeting with the quacks who are selling the drug. In addition we are reaching the policy makers in drug administration and civil surgeons who can really keep track and play an effective role in stopping this.”