Thai Red Cross, US open Asia's first transgender clinic

US ambassador Glyn T Davies (centre, in jacket) cuts the ribbon at the opening of the The Tangerine Community Health Center in Bangkok Nov 27. (Tangerine centre photo)

The Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre and US development partners have opened the first clinic in Asia to target services exclusively to the transgender community.

The Tangerine Community Health Center, located on the first floor of the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre in Bangkok, was funded by The US Agency for International Development and was implemented by RTI International and partners. It aims to become a model for quality health services and research on transgender health.

"The Tangerine Center will provide friendly, needed services to the transgender community locally, while leading the region in identifying and sharing models to improve healthcare access and quality among transgender people," said US ambassador Glyn T Davies at a Nov 27 opening ceremony. "These efforts will be critical to achieving an end to Aids, but will also contribute to a much broader agenda to promote the health and rights of transgender people."

Centre officials said current social, economic, cultural and legal frameworks, as well as health policies, inadequately address gender sensitivity and transgender identity. That has led to issues such as misuse of hormones for gender-affirmation, vulnerability to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, not to mention stigma and discrimination.

"This is an immense step for Thailand and the region regarding the mobilisation and advocacy for transgender health," said Nicha Rongram, spokeswoman for the Thai Transgender Alliance for Human Rights.

The Tangerine Center's services include psychosocial counselling, hormone administration and pap smears. The centre, managed by trained transgender personnel and gender-sensitive medical professionals, is open weekdays from 7.30am to 4.30pm.