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With the commencement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Sewa Pakhwada' campaign on Sunday, Indias first transgender Outpatient Department (OPD) was inaugurated at the Ram Manohar Lohiya Hospital and Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Science in the national capital.
According to an official release from the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, "On the start of Sewa Pakhwada, RML Hospital inaugurated Indias first dedicated OPD for Transgenders today. The inaugural ceremony was led by Dr (Prof) Ajay Shukla, Director, RML Hospital." The initiative is started with understanding of the difficulties encountered by transgender community to access healthcare services, largely due to discomfort and the fear of discrimination and social apathy, said the release. At Indias first dedicated OPD clinic for transgenders, they will be provided with facilities such as free treatment, investigations and sex change surgery, it added. "A separate OPD registration counter for these clinics to facilitate smooth process, an endocrinology facility with Clinico-psychological assessment, a plastic surgery facility for various related surgeries and a dermatology facility for related issues will be provided," said the release. Additionally, the release stated that other facilities such asmedicine (Physician) facility for various diseases, urology facility for various related problems, paediatrics facility for related issues, all other related Blood investigations and a separate washroom facility (Toilet for Gender Neutral/Transgender) will be provided. The initiative was appreciated by the Transgender community, said the official release. Earlier yesterday, Director, RML Hospital Dr Ajay Shukla told ANI, "This is the first step, we will be organising every Friday OPD exclusively for transgenders, and if we see increasing numbers then days will be increased." "They avoid coming to normal OPDs. So, we decided to start separate OPD service for them." Ajay Shukla added. (ANI)
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