Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
India’s first dedicated transgender ward inaugurated at GT Hospital
MUMBAI: The country’s first transgender ward was inaugurated on Friday at the state-run GT Hospital near Crawford Market.
The hospital, which comes under the Sir JJ Group of Hospitals, has renovated a medical wing ward with 30 beds and sensitised 150 healthcare staff to provide affordable and accessible healthcare to the community. Girish Mahajan, minister of medical education, Maharashtra who inaugurated the ward, said there was always an issue over which ward to admit them. “There were several complaints. We decided to have a special ward with an O2 ventilator facility,” he said.
“For years, doctors have experienced the community being uncomfortable in getting admitted to a male ward. And we saw resistance from female patients. Therefore, the need for a separate ward for trans persons was always felt. Because of the space crunch at JJ Hospital and St George being reserved for Covid, we decided to start the dedicated ward at GT Hospital,” said Dr Pallavi Saple, dean of JJ Hospital. She said suggestions from representatives of the transgender community were taken while designing the ward. “One important suggestion by them was sensitising the healthcare staff and changing their attitude while dealing with the community. In our sensitising program, we have told our staff that apart from taking care of their health, we should know how to speak to them. For example, asking them whether they want to be addressed as she or he. Our attitude has to change,” said Dr Saple.
MUMBAI: The state school education department has issued a government resolution (GR) asking schools to observe grandparents’ day in September. This year, it will be celebrated on a Sunday – September 10 – after the first Monday. “These days children spend a lot of time with their grandparents and the relationship between them is special,” states the GR.