Maharashtra's First Comprehensive Transgender Clinic Opens In Pune

Keeping in mind the discrimination faced by transgender people in hospitals and other medical facilities, USAID aided NGO Accelerate inaugurated Maharashtra's very first dedicated health clinic for transgender people in Pune. The virtual inauguration of the clinic took place last month.

During the event, Accelerate announced the launch of a similar clinic in Thane, Maharashtra which will soon be operational. Earlier this year, the country's first comprehensive transgender clinic for transgender people was launched Iaunched in Hyderabad. 

This initiative, backed by John Hopkins University School of Medicine and the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), aims at providing better facilities to the transgender population suffering from HIV/AIDS. The facilities in these clinics include counselling sessions to improve the mental health of individuals and lab tests for diagnosing minor ailments among others.

In a video message, renowned activist Laksmi Narayan Tripathi said that this initiative was the fruition of a dream and demands that the transgender community has had since 1989. Mumbai based activist Gauri Sawant also lauded the initiative, noting that such a setup might reduce the community's dependence on quacks. 

During the launch, director of transgender health at Accelerate Simran Bharucha stressed that when it comes to healthcare services, one size does not fit all. She also said that given the high concentration of transgender population in both Pune and Mumbai, Accelerate is grateful for the support provided by Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS).

About Staff Writer

A team of Likho writers works daily to bring to you queer stories from the Indian subcontinent that matter! For enquiries, send us a mail on editor.likho@gmail.com

Related Posts