Transgender AIDS patients to be treated indiscriminately.
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To start treatment of transgender AIDS patients today The Sindh High Court has ordered to the administration of the Civil Hospital.
After hearing of a case regarding the hopital's refusal to treat transgender AIDS patients the order was issued.
Without any discrimination with prescribed protocols followed stringently, including transperson, The court, has strictly directed the hospital's administration to immediately begin treating all patients of the disease.
" There were around six khwaja siras who were HIV positive of which the cases of four patients were serious", Hina Baloch said.
This issue has been going on for the last two years with transgender patients of AIDS, Hina Baloch said.
Hina Baloch said," It is already difficult being a transgender in this country, but the stigma around the disease adds another layer of oppression, which is why they don't consider it appropriate treating khwaja siras".
Hina Baloch said," They were not applying a bandage to the wound. Our community members cared for her as much as they could. Even we contacted the hospital, after which they conducted her check up and then asked her to get the treatment done elsewhere ". Hina Baloch added," One has to undergo surgery of the hip joint. Another has to get their leg operated on, while other transpersons need attention for hernia and dialysis. All these procedures require the surgical intervention of some sort, but the hospital was not cooperating in this".
Hina Baloch said," This was criminal negligence " , after succumbing to her wound Chanda eventually died. "We would inform the medical practitioner that she was HIV positive patient so that they could ensure precautions during treatment. They wouldn't treat after finding out about the HIV status. Civil Hospital staff knew , but they were not treating her deliberately ", Hina Baloch said.
Activists said," In such challenging times, the access and right to healthcare is a victory for us. This is hard work, struggle and a global issue. This issue was raised in the US during the 1980s, but it has surfaced now in our part of the world. It is still in the making and it was a landmark verdict".
Civil Hospital Additional Superintendent Dr Harish Kumar said, " We are ready for the treatment ". He stated that the medical facility has appointed a focal person to ask transpersons to contact the hospital today.
Civil Hospital Additional Superintendent Dr Harish Kumar added, " Never thought of discrimination. There is a screening phase before the treatment of an AIDS patient ".