At a function attended by over 300 widows taking anti-retroviral treatment at the hospital to share their experiences, three transgender individuals made impromptu speeches in front of Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Supriya Sule. “They spoke about the hardships they face and how only a handful of people care for their medical treatment and needs. They recalled their journey to our centre to get the treatment,” said Dr Alka Deshpande, head ART, JJ hospital.

The function was also attended by JJ hospital Dean Dr B M Subnis. It was organised to support the HIV positive widows who have been undergoing treatment for over four years now.

“The transgender people expressed their concerns. This was something we have not seen before. They are a closed community. All of them were presented sarees at the function,” said Dr Deshpande.

At JJ hospital, the largest state centre for HIV treatment, there are close to 8,000 patients taking ART treatment. Of these 2,500 are women out of which 35 per cent are widows.

The widows shared their experience of being ignorant of their HIV status even at the time of their husband’s death. “It was only after my child started falling ill and I took him to the hospital, I was informed about my HIV status,” said a patient who along with her child is now taking ART treatment.

At the function, Dr Deshpande also announced that the funds for JJ as a centre for excellence have come in, meaning the centre will now act as a place of training, research and treatment for the state.