FHDA offers health services to transgender community

In the midst of such negative perceptions, one non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Penang Family Health Development Association (FHDA) has come forward to offer the group some assistance, particularly in sexual and reproductive health services.

FHDA chairman Yeap Meng Chee said the organisation did not intend to encourage the phenomenon but wished to help the individuals obtain proper health services.

"We are focusing more on sexual and reproductive health services as this group is also known to go for implants and hormone therapy. They should have a doctor's advice and proper prescription otherwise it could be detrimental to their health," she said to Bernama here.

Yeap said due to difficulties they faced in getting advice and treatment locally, the group tended to go abroad which sometimes led to ill effects and even death.

She noted that throughout last year 449 transgender individuals obtained the NGO's services.

"It was very hard to approach them in the beginning as they were wary of us. But our volunteers have managed to gain their trust. Now some of them even bring their friends to get help," she said, adding that there were 12 volunteer doctors offering their services to FHDA.

Apart from medical checks and advice, Yeap said some of them were also referred to psychiatrists to resolve their identity crisis with a number of cases reverting back to being men.

Established in 1962, FHDA is globally funded and offers family planning services, counseling for miscarriage, women's health checks such as pap smear and breast examination, HPV vaccine and HIV prevention programmes.