The Young Queer Alliance (YQA) has organised a two-days training with health personnel, representatives of Human Rights Institutions, Internal Organisations and Ministries on the Right to Health for LGBTQIA+ people. The training was held at the Caudan Arts on 11 and 18 August 2021 with some 80 participants.

The training was organised with the collaboration of the Nursing Association with the aim to raise awareness among policy makers and health frontliners in ensuring customer oriented, human rights inclusive and quality healthcare to all.

The training was implemented under the “Strengthening the inclusion and social acceptance of LGBTQIA+ persons, through policy and mindset changes, in Mauritius and Rodrigues”, which is a Project being implemented by the Young Queer Alliance and the Collectif Arc-en-Ciel and funded by the European Union.

In his opening remarks through a video message, the Chargé d’affaires of the EU Delegation in Mauritius, Mr Sebastian MOLINA MUNOZ reassured of the European Union’s engagement in safeguarding the rights of LGBTQIA+ persons in Mauritius. Mr Molina also thanked the Government officials present for their support and the healthcare personnel present for their willingness to learn and bring a change in the Mauritian healthcare system.

In the same vein, Mr Vipine Aubeeluck, President of the Young Queer Alliance emphasised on the laudable efforts of the Ministry of Health and Wellness in ensuring human rights in the health system by adhering to the principles as laid by the World Health Organization: “Health is a human right” through the provision of free healthcare.

Improvements in healthcare in terms of service delivery, increase in the range of services provided, construction of health institutions, policy and legal framework as well as introduction of programmes and services based on the epidemiological profiles of the population are constant efforts made by the Ministry of Health and Wellness.

For Me. Hulman, Barrister-at-law at the National Human Rights Commission, “Mauritius being a welfare State, medical care is free for everyone and the right to health care is guaranteed for everybody without any discrimination.”

For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) people, the Ministry of Health and Wellness has since a number of years brought about a number of improvements such as the HIV/AIDS programmes in view of attaining the UNAIDS 2030 targets as deliberated by Mrs Ramchurn from the National AIDS Secretariat.

Moreover, services in terms of hormone therapy, and the recent inclusion of “Undetermined” in the birth certificate for a child born with congenital malformities in the Finance Act 2021 are steps forward for more inclusive healthcare for LGBTQ people in Mauritius.

Representative of the Ministry of Health and Wellness and Ag. Head of AIDS Unit, Dr R. Purmessur and the Minister Counsellor and Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation, Mr Géza Strammer made closing remarks as the training ended. Mr. Strammer concluded on the note “The right to health is an inclusive right and a fundamental part of our human rights of a life in dignity.” The training ended with the award of certificate to the participants.

Young Queer Alliance

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