Health clinic for transgenders set up in Iloilo City

INQUIRER FILES

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) Iloilo chapter has launched the first ever Mango (Managing Affirmation and Gender Optimization) clinic in Western Visayas on Sunday, Dec. 1.

Mona Liza Diones, FPOP Iloilo Chapter program manager, said the trans health clinic aims to help transgenders who have no access to appropriate services.

Diones said they have discovered that it is not common for transgenders to undergo self-medication and unsupervised gender affirming hormone therapy while using the internet as their source.

Ecile Gonzales Genit, case manager for a trans health clinic, said some trans individuals would take the pills even if these are not medically safe.

The unregulated intake of medicines, she said, makes them susceptible to different types of illnesses such as kidney failure, cardiovascular diseases and even mental health issues.

Through the Mango clinic, she said they will help trans people by offering the following services: HIV Screening, STI Management, Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy and many more.

The FPOP Iloilo office is located at Dulalia Building, Rizal Street in Iloilo City.