India's First Two Transgender Clinics Open In Hyderabad
Telangana got its first two transgender clinics recently. According to reports, the two trans clinics are part of the Union government's plans to have exclusive transgender clinics in different metropolitan cities.
With the scrapping of Section 377 in 2018, India is on its way to accepting the LGBTQIA+ community. However, we still have a long way to go but are definitely way ahead than before.
Since the conversation around medical help for transgender people needs a lot of attention, an Indian city is making it right with new initiatives.
Telangana got its first two transgender clinics recently. According to reports, the two trans clinics are part of the Union government's plans to have exclusive transgender clinics in different metropolitan cities.
This initiative is part of the Transgender Persons Act of 2019. Hyderabad's first two clinics are expected to extend the reach to other part of India as well.
Trans activist Rachana Mudraboyina told Telangana Today Hyderabad is the starting point of this initiative since the rate of HIV among transgender people is higher in the city.
iStock (Representational image)
¡°The HIV prevalence among transgenders here is 6.47 per cent compared with the national average of 3.13 per cent. India is a partner in the United States Agency for International Development¡¯s (USAID) shared objectives on health outcomes and partners with the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to eradicate AIDS by 2030. The USAID Accelerate project too is providing technical assistance to NACO in its efforts," said Mudraboyina.
She also said, ¡°The Hyderabad Transgender Community Clinic very well fits into the USAID¡¯s mission and objectives of the Accelerate project to prevent HIV and support antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment services among transgenders. The clinic also strives to improve the socioeconomic status of the community and take care of overall wellbeing."
The clinics, Narayanguda and Jeedimetla opened on January 29 and July 11 respectively.
Sushant Divgikar, a drag artist, inaugurated the second clinic.
Instagram
The reality TV star shared the news on Instagram and shared a picture of the transgender doctors, counsellors, psychologists, community outreach workers and heterosexual allies. Divgikar added that the clinic is 'funded and supported by @johnshopkinsu.' Look at the post here:
The clinic is completely run by trans representatives. Its aim is to welcome members from any other community to help them out such as hijras, trans men, cross-dressers, gender non-conforming people, jogtis and shiva shaktis.
The clinic's aim is to watch out for general health services, provide guidance and medication on hormone therapy and gender affirmation procedures as well as mental health counselling. It also provides HIV/STD counseling along with legal aid and social services.
