Latest news with #Sabrang
The Hindu
18 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
India's first transgender clinic in Hyderabad reopened; Tata Trusts revives facility shut after USAID froze funds
Months after Hyderabad's Mitr Clinic — India's first transgender-led health clinic — shut down following a funding freeze by USAID, the landmark facility has made a comeback albeit with a new name and renewed financial backing. Now reopened as Sabrang Clinic, the community-run healthcare centre resumed services in May 2025 with support from the Tata Trusts, confirmed Subash Ghosh, project lead of the initiative. 'Once the USAID issue happened in January, we had to shut down operations. But we reached out to several philanthropic organisations and individuals. And, now, Tata Trusts is supporting us,' Dr. Ghosh told The Hindu in an exclusive conversation. Launched in 2021 in Hyderabad's Narayanguda, Mitr Clinic broke new ground not only as a dedicated healthcare facility for transgender people, but also as the first in India to be entirely staffed and managed by trans community members . 'From doctors to clinic managers, everyone was from the community. We had seen over 3,000 patients since the clinic started, until we had to shut down,' Dr. Ghosh said. A lifeline after USAID The shutdown in January 2025 left many transgender people and other LGBTQIA+ community members without access to trusted, stigma-free healthcare. During the interim, the clinic team continued providing online consultations and medicine delivery support until new funding could be secured. That lifeline arrived in April, when the Tata Trusts committed to supporting the clinic for three years. 'We got the confirmation in April, and operations resumed from May. They have committed ₹1,500 per person per year,' said Dr. Ghosh. Under the earlier USAID programme, funding stood at ₹1,900 per person per year While the Tata Trusts now fully fund the clinic's core clinical team, senior staff positions are jointly supported by Tata and YRG Care, an NGO that was also associated with Mitr Clinic. 'We had to phase out some roles due to financial constraints, but we are actively reaching out to other donors to help us scale up again,' he added. A government-inspired model took shape before closure While Mitr Clinic was still operational, the Telangana government launched its own trans-inclusive health facilities in all the 33 districts, the Maitri Clinic, drawing on learnings from the Mitr model. 'We were already working closely with the Social Welfare Department and the Health Ministry. They took our approach forward,' said Dr. Ghosh. Though Maitri began a few months before Mitr Clinic's shutdown, both clinics coexisted briefly, each serving as a critical lifeline for the transgender and other members of LGBTQIA+ community. Although the Sabrang team considered State support, they chose to independently restart operations to avoid further delays. 'Our clinic had more than just a physical space. We had online support systems, strong community outreach, and a trust network built over years. It was important to get that back quickly,' he said. Why 'Sabrang'? The name Sabrang, meaning 'all colours', signals a more expansive vision for inclusive healthcare. 'Earlier, we focused solely on transgender communities. But now we recognise that others, especially people from different marginalised groups, including queer and gender-diverse individuals face similar barriers to healthcare,' said Dr. Ghosh. As India's first transgender-led clinic returns in a renewed form, its commitment remains unchanged: healthcare that is dignified, accessible, and community-driven. 'We have come back stronger, more inclusive, and more determined. It is still a space created by the community, only now, we are reaching more people who need it,' Dr. Ghosh said.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
India's first trans clinic in Hyd gets new lease of life
Hyderabad: Mitr Clinic , India's first exclusive clinic for transgenders set up in 2021 in Narayanguda, had a new lease of life after one of India's top MNCs came to their rescue to fund the clinic after USAID stepped back. Having reopened on May 2, 2025, the Mitr Clinic has donned a new name - Sabrang. Managed by the YR Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRGCARE), an NGO focusing on HIV/AIDS treatment, the clinic will be open from Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm. It was in Jan 2025 when the clinic was forced to close after its funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was halted. All USAID funding was frozen following an order from US President Donald Trump. As a result, many members of the transgender community who were dependent on the clinic found it difficult to access the healthcare they needed. "Many prefer to come to this clinic since it provides privacy to the transgender community. Until Jan, the clinic used to serve 350 members of the LGBTQIA+ community," said a member of the community. For 24-year-old Radhakrishnan, who works as a traffic assistant with the state police, Sabrang is where he hopes to continue his transition to a trans man. "For a few months, when the clinic was closed, I struggled. I was used to visiting Mitr regularly for hormone therapy. I had nowhere else to go when it was shut," he said. Similarly, Ayesha Meera, a transgender woman who used to work as a counsellor for Mitr and now works as an advocacy officer for the Trans Equality Society, said: "I used to live in Tenali and travel 7-8 hours every day for hormone therapy at Mitr. Now that the clinic is open again, I can continue doing it." Meanwhile, June being Pride Month, the clinic manager organised a pot-luck on Saturday, attended by their regular patients. "Here, I am not made to feel ashamed, and I feel comfortable. At other clinics, I was taunted and looked down upon," a transgender person told TOI. "The HIV treatment programme is extensive. They provide PREP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a medication to prevent HIV, anti-retroviral therapy, and PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, a medication to cure HIV). It's also a place for the community to socialise and bond - it's more like a second home," said Rohit Mohite, a sexual health manager.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Mitr Clinic gets new avatar: India's first transgender clinic in Hyderabad gets new lease of life
HYDERABAD: Mitr Clinic, India's first exclusive clinic for transgenders set up in 2021 in Narayanguda, had a new lease of life after one of India's top MNCs came to their rescue to fund the clinic after USAID stepped back. Having reopened on May 2, 2025, the Mitr Clinic has donned a new name - Sabrang. Managed by the YR Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRGCARE), an NGO focusing on HIV/AIDS treatment, the clinic will be open from Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad It was in Jan 2025 when the clinic was forced to close after its funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was halted. All USAID funding was frozen following an order from US President Donald Trump. As a result, many members of the transgender community who were dependent on the clinic found it difficult to access the healthcare they needed. "Many prefer to come to this clinic since it provides privacy to the transgender community. Until Jan, the clinic used to serve 350 members of the LGBTQIA+ community," said a member of the community. For 24-year-old Radhakrishnan, who works as a traffic assistant with the state police, Sabrang is where he hopes to continue his transition to a trans man. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo "For a few months, when the clinic was closed, I struggled. I was used to visiting Mitr regularly for hormone therapy. I had nowhere else to go when it was shut," he said. Similarly, Ayesha Meera, a transgender woman who used to work as a counsellor for Mitr and now works as an advocacy officer for the Trans Equality Society, said: "I used to live in Tenali and travel 7-8 hours every day for hormone therapy at Mitr. Now that the clinic is open again, I can continue doing it." Meanwhile, June being Pride Month, the clinic manager organised a pot-luck on Saturday, attended by their regular patients. "Here, I am not made to feel ashamed, and I feel comfortable. At other clinics, I was taunted and looked down upon," a transgender person told TOI. "The HIV treatment programme is extensive. They provide PREP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, a medication to prevent HIV, anti-retroviral therapy, and PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis, a medication to cure HIV). It's also a place for the community to socialise and bond - it's more like a second home," said Rohit Mohite, a sexual health manager.
