Vaccine Gurugram’s demand camp propels for more centres across country
From singing to dancing, the Covid-19 vaccination camp set up for sex workers and transgenders in Gurugram has it all. Those turning up here are unable to curtail their happiness for being brought into focus. On International Sex Workers’ Day today, we speak about this initiative to sex workers, who feel this is everything they could have asked for!
“Maine bahut try kiya, par slot book nahi ho pa raha tha,” says Suman Gupta, a sex worker from Gurugram, adding, “We are the ones who come in contact with people the most. Gurugram ke swasthya vibhag ne humare baare mein socha, hume acha laga. Jaise Gurugram mein hua hai, vaise pure desh mein hona chahiye.” Naira Tanwar, a transgender and a sex worker says, “Har koi transgender ki respect nahi karta,” adding that she too, was facing difficulties in getting a slot. “Wahan I felt ki hum bhi aapke jaise hain.”
Dr Virender Yadav, chief medical officer, district administration of Gurugram, says, “They were deprived. Some even booked slots and still didn’t get the vaccine. I thought inhi ki locality mein we should make some arrangement.”
“This is the respect we need,” says a trans woman Kiran Sakhi, adding, “This made me happy from the bottom of my heart. And it took hardly two to five minutes. We enjoyed the whole experience, and even danced to express our joy!”