Reluctant for COVID-19 testing voluntarily: Trans community
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 02 2021:
In view of problems being faced by transgender community in staying at Covid Care Centre, government needs to open a separate facility for this group of people as they are reluctant to go for COVID-19 test due to absence of separate shelter.
It is absolutely necessary for opening a separate block for transgender people as COVID-19 pandemic hit this group of people badly as well and hence government needs to take up a special measure to mitigate suffering, they faced while staying together with men at Covid Care Centre, a transgender patient raised this point to The People's Chronicle while talking through phone.
One of the transgender patients currently staying at a Covid Care Centre opened by the government informed this daily that 'he' was worried thinking about where to stay for treatment moments after confirming COVID-19 positive.
The matter was discussed with All Manipur Nupi Manbi Association secretary Shanta and the latter tried all 'his' best but the response from the authority concerned was not satisfactory, transgender patient said and maintained that 'he' and other transgender people consider themselves to be female and always tried to become women even by undergoing hormone therapy.
However, COVID-19 positive transgender people are currently being sheltered together with men at Covid Care Centres and this caused immense problem to them particularly at the time of changing cloths.
Nevertheless, COVID-19 positive transgender people are keeping aside all these problems and doing whatever necessary for treatment so as to cure from the disease, the transgender patient said, while drawing attention of the government to the need for opening a separate Covid Care Centre for transgender people or a separate block so that transgender people who may contract the virus in future could stay safely and happily.
When contacted, All Manipur Nupi Manbi Association secretary Shanta informed that around five transgender people have contracted the virus so far and all of them faced problems related to shelter and other issues.
Apart from being a vulnerable community, transgenders also faced discrimination in the society, 'he' said and narrated about hurdles 'he' faced while pressurising authority for opening a separate testing centre for transgender people.
Shanta also said that 'he' does not want to go for COVID-19 testing voluntarily in view of problems likely to be faced for shelter and others if tested positive.
'He' said that principal secretary (health) was pressurised for opening separate block for transgender patients at Covid Care Centre but health officials are not even picking up phone.
"Despite being coordinator of the grievances cell of Manipur State Commission for Women, I have no power for taking up welfare measures for the community I belongs," Shanta said and lamented that government is not ignoring problems of transgender people.
'He' also pointed out that Telangana and West Bengal governments had already opened separate COVID-19 wards for transgender people in the hospitals.