Gopi Shankar Madurai, the Southern Representative of the National Council for Transgender Persons has written to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to address the discrimination faced by transgender persons in getting treatment for COVID19 as well as access to vaccines.
In his letter, Gopi said that the pandemic has wrecked the lives and livelihoods of transgender and intersex people adding that it was not possible for them to get quality healthcare anyway.
“During the second wave, I have received several complaints from transgender people across different states of South India highlighting the discrimination faced by them while getting treatment for COVID-19. They are being subjected to discrimination from doctors as they are not getting the required medical attention. There have been several news reports regarding the same. Further, it is also important to take note of the health needs of transgender people living with serious diseases and ensure that their access to medicine is not impaired.” Gopi said in his letter.
He urged the CM to allocate 5 beds exclusively for transgenders in each district citing Section 16 (f) of the Transgender Persons Act, 2019 which mandates the government to facilitate access to transgender persons in hospitals and other healthcare institutions and centres.
He also asked the CM to arrange special vaccination drives for transgender people drawing attention to the fact that there is little or no awareness among the transgender community regarding vaccination.
“Your action today will determine how many transgender people will be able to get the much-needed medical attention and will be vaccinated and this at a time when a solidaristic, humanitarian and accountable response is being called for to save people and their futures.”, Gopi said concluding his letter.
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