Transgender clinic inaugurated in AIIMS

CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: “Transgender Clinic” was inaugurated at AIIMS Bhopal to address the unmet needs of transgenders. This is the first clinic of its kind among all the AIIMS in the country. Services of psychiatry, endocrinology, urology and plastic surgery departments will be available in this special clinic. This clinic will run on the first and third Thursday of every month from 2 pm to 4 pm. All involved departments will work together as needed to provide comprehensive clinical care.

Inaugurating the clinic, AIIMS Bhopal Executive Director Ajay Singh said that it is a unique initiative by the departments of Psychiatry, Endocrinology, Urology and Burns and Plastic Surgery. The clinic will provide comprehensive services to the transgender population and their families in a specialized manner keeping in mind the sensitivities involved in their care.

The clinic will provide services with a focus on the overall health of transgender and LGBTQ+ members in collaboration with NGOs working in this field. During this, Abdul Majeed, President of Anmol NGO, shared the ground level difficulties faced by the LGBTQ+ members and also assured support to the needy persons to reach this clinic.

Some transgenders also participated in the inauguration ceremony and expressed happiness over starting a special clinic for them. Earlier, Vijender Singh, Head of the Department of Psychiatry, welcomed the gathering and explained the services that would be available. This special clinic will cater to the needs of transgenders who generally feel marginalized and suffer from inferiority complex.

The primary beneficiaries of this clinic will be both adolescents and adults suffering from gender dysphoria, formerly known as gender identity disorder. Services will include necessary clinical assessments evaluation, psychotherapy, hormonal treatments and cosmetic surgery (minor and major) for feminization or masculinization and certification for gender dysphoria as needed. Dean (Academics), Medical Superintendent (Acting), faculty members, residents and other officials were present in the programme.