It is rather woeful to realize that despite all the luxuries in our households, we still feel devastated by this isolation, but there is a community that has been isolated ever since the genesis of Pakistan – the transgender community. It is utterly appalling and dismal to realize that during these times of this pandemic, no one truly raised a voice for this forsaken community. However, this situation does not end at the transgender community but stretches and encompasses all marginalized communities present in Pakistan – the sweepers, sanitary workers and laborers.
With the entire world crippled by the coronavirus, our focus right now is on resolving the pandemic. But our recovery will not be effective or complete if we forget our most vulnerable communities. As research from the Human Rights Campaign makes clear, the coronavirus crisis will disproportionately affect all of these marginalized communities in many ways. They are more likely to have a pre-existing medical condition, which means they are more likely to get sick and take a longer time to recover. They are more likely to work in the service industry which means they are more likely to become unemployed during the crisis. As these vulnerable communities often have the least access to the information, resources, and care they need to stay healthy and safe, most of them are at the verge of contracting this fatal disease. Instead of being committed to continuing services for these marginalized communities the government has done nothing out of the blue for these people writhed in despair; many of whom fall in the highest-risk categories for contracting COVID-19 – the elderly, those experiencing homelessness, individuals with significant mental health needs, the medically fragile, and those with co-occurring health conditions.
The government should now take steps in forming a specific COVID 19 crisis management team for the marginalized community that would address new issues and would closely monitor all the latest developments with the pandemic
The lockdown has already disproportionately hurt marginalized communities due to loss of livelihood and lack of food, shelter, health, and other basic needs. The government does have a responsibility to protect the health and well-being of the population, but some of these steps have left tens of thousands of out-of-work migrant workers stranded, with many local commute services forced to be closed. The blanket closing of state borders have caused disruption in the supply of essential goods, leading to inflation and fear of shortages. Thousands of homeless people are in need of protection. Police actions to punish those violating orders have reportedly resulted in abuses against people in need.
There is also an ever growing concern about stigmatization of such individuals which could lead a rise in vigilante violence in the unforeseeable future. Police in all provinces are actually trying to use force which can also lead to a rise in rebellions being ignited by releasing the pent up frustration these said individuals might just have. Such individuals like the transgender people are mostly cadging their way for a livelihood and the lockdown has even taken that from them as well. Now in deserted streets, these individuals fend from themselves without a dime in their pockets and no marriage or events they can perform at. The pandemic robbed them of their souls.
Although widely discussed in terms of the steps individuals should take, social distancing also demands commitment from federal, provincial, and local governments to support and protect particularly vulnerable populations. This is especially urgent for low-income and marginalized communities who are negatively affected by multiple social determinants of health, including people with disabilities; workers who do not have the option of staying home; people experiencing homelessness and who lack access to affordable, safe, and healthy housing; people of color; immigrants, , and refugees; and others who face increased risk of neglect or mistreatment by government authorities. Fortunately, there are actions state and local governments can take immediately to support the ability of low-income and marginalized communities to safely shelter in place.
Many low-income individuals and families face significant challenges that prevent them from protecting themselves and others from COVID-19. Many lack the disposable income, flexible work schedules, and ability to do paid work from home. Nor do they have paid leave required to take care of children whose schools are closed and whose educational attainment and social development may be set back for months. Others may be able to stay home, but their housing security may be at risk because they’ve lost their jobs or had hours cut back as a result of the pandemic. Being forced to choose between paying for food, health care, utilities, or other necessities and keeping up with rent will almost always result in eviction, and eviction always results in a downward move to worse conditions, including homelessness, and corollary poor health outcomes.
The government should now take steps in forming a specific COVID 19 crisis management team for the marginalized community that would address new issues and would closely monitor all the latest developments with the pandemic. The government should also adhere to the protocols of social distancing by providing adequate information and assign dedicated personnel for the tiger force announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan instead of sending out vulnerable students to distribute essentials from home to home. The government should also take steps in Including existing transgender groups, communities, and centers in engagement and outreach as they have key roles in prevention and supporting access to medical care. The government should also try to provide these communities with free health care. Moreover the specific people of the communities who are already suffering from terminal diseases like HIV should be the government’s first priority and should get to them as soon as possible. As these people are already vulnerable and tend to live in crammed up, overpopulated areas; the risk of the disease to suddenly mushroom in these areas is very high.
The writer is a journalist and social media influencer based in Islamabad. He can be reached out on Twitter @ShahabSpeaks