Daily Times

LAHORE: To keep the transgender community living in and around the walled city area aware of healthcare opportunities for them, the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) has launched a HIV-AIDS Control Campaign.

The main health centres have been set up in Kareem Park and Taxali Gate areas, whereas, the one planned inside Delhi Gate will be operational next month. At least 32 transgender persons got their blood tests done for the HIV-AIDS on the first day of the campaign on Saturday.

The campaign has been launched by WCLA in collaboration with the Punjab HIV-AIDS Control Program and Akhuwat. WCLA has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Punjab HIV-AIDS Control Program for organizing these camps and raise awareness among transgender persons and those associated with the music and dancing profession. According to the MoU, there would be regular camps and awareness raising sessions for the HIV-AIDS and Hepatitis along with free blood testing service. Mobile camps and blood testing facility has been provided in this campaign.

Talking to Daily Times, a leader of transgender community, Jeniffer, said that they had been considered a neglected part of the society and were not welcomed in the laboratories and medical centres for checkups and blood testing. “Many of us are not aware of the diseases we are suffering from because we face embarrassing situations while getting medical checkups done, and many of us die for lack of provision of treatment as a result.

“We are considered as untouchables and that makes us sad. We have never been gathered on any platform for learning healthcare tips or measures for a healthy life. We have been given an opportunity by the WCLA who have organised these health camps for us and I am asking all my community to avail it. This will help us to be aware of the health problems we have.”

Humaira, who works as a dancer in Taxali Gate area, said that her friend had recently died of some disease that she could not get diagnosed because of lack of treatment options. She lamented that professional dancers were a neglected segment of the society. She said that many of the women associated with the profession had approached the health centre established by WCLA in Taxali for medical checkup. She said that the teams of Punjab HIV-AIDS Control Programme and WCLA have given them the confidence to come forward and share their health problems. “Previously we were confused and ashamed of sharing our health problems with the doctors and sometimes we were made embarrassed by putting shameful questions before us during the medical checkups. Here we have found a decent and caring staff”, she said.

Officials of Punjab HIV-AIDS Control Programme said that they were trying their best to penetrate among the residents of walled city and especially the deprived like dancing girls and transgender so that they have an opportunity for medical checkup on regular basis. The officials were of the view that due to unhygienic lifestyles and environment many people caught HIV-AIDS and hepatitis and while they were unaware of the disease, it could spread to other persons.

Deputy Director Social Mobilization WCLA Nosheen Zaidi said she was very hopeful about raising awareness among the neglected segments in the walled city. “Whether it’s a transgender or a dancing girl, we need to treat them as human beings and creations of God. We need to give them equal rights to the basic needs of life and health is on top priority. The Social Mobilisation Department of WCLA has planned to help them by holding awareness campaigns and health camps. We had held health camps previously regarding dengue, malaria and other diseases and this time we have joined hands with the Punjab HIV-AIDS Control Program for this venture which was very much needed. These camps are open daily for the people of walled city,” Nosheen said. She added that WCLA has taken on board the leaders of transgender community for such campaigns and more plans were being made for giving them a respectful living.

Published in Daily Times, April 30^th 2018.