Climate change is making heat waves more frequent, which presents serious problems for populations all around the world. In Pakistan, where high temperatures are common, heat waves have a significant and wide-ranging effect. Transgender people are among the vulnerable groups impacted by extreme heat waves, as they already experience a number of social, economic, and health inequalities. The purpose of this news article is to examine the particular consequences of heat waves on transgender people in Pakistan, emphasizing the particular difficulties they face and the necessity of focused measures to lessen these effects. This article also is an effort to bring a concept of understanding the climate and its revolutionizing consequences that not only affects the binary world but highly impacts those who are non binary, gender nonconforming and transgender persons. There is a lack of scientific literature on this subject and this news article scaffolds a base to build further from here in the world of research, policy and practice.
Heat waves in Pakistan: Heat waves are a common and severe climatic occurrence in Pakistan; they especially affect areas like the provinces of Sindh and Punjab, where summertime temperatures frequently rise above 40 °C (104°F). In Turbat, Balochistan, and Moenjo Daro, Sindh, on May 28, 2017 and May 26, 2010, respectively, the hottest temperature ever recorded in Pakistan was 53.7 °C (128.7 °F). Urban heat islands are created in densely populated locations like Karachi and Lahore as a result of variables including air pollution, deforestation, and urbanization that intensify these heat waves. The dry and semi-arid climate of the nation, along with restricted access to energy and cooling infrastructure, exacerbates the impact of heat waves and puts millions of people at risk for severe heat-related illnesses. In recent times, Pakistan has experienced an increase in the frequency and intensity of heat waves, which has had disastrous effects on the country’s economy, agriculture, and public health.
The Burden of Vulnerability
In Pakistan, marginalization and discrimination against transgender people are widespread. They are especially vulnerable to extreme weather events like heat waves because they frequently lack access to education, and employment prospects. Discrimination makes individuals more vulnerable in times of extreme heat, and forces them to go outside to earn through begging or sex work and face the vulnerability to illnesses brought on by the heat. Furthermore, the discrimination peaks while it comes to healthcare. The transgender persons have lack or no access to healthcare facilities, services or can not afford transportation to reach the service provider. They have to rely on self healing or the transgender family members take care of them, leading to severe forms of illness or mortality in some cases. Alas, it is really difficult to see that even such deaths are not counted anywhere with the general population and never displayed in any of the country´s statistics.
Discrimination makes individuals more vulnerable in times of extreme heat, and forces them to go outside to earn through begging or sex work and face the vulnerability to illnesses brought on by the heat.
These already vulnerable livelihoods are put in much greater danger during heat waves because working outside can be challenging in such high temperatures. The transgender persons, cannot drop the option of going out in heat to beg or look for clients. The decision of staying home will affect their economic condition and they are potentially going to be short in food, supplies and necessary medicines. Furthermore, higher electricity bills due to greater energy use for cooling may further burden transgender people, who may already be struggling to make ends meet. Lack of income can also lead to not providing house-rents timely and they can be forced to leave their ‘deras’ (indigenous term for transgender houses).
Heat and the homeless-ness:
In Pakistan, homelessness is a major problem for transgender people; many are compelled to live in makeshift camps or on the streets as a result of prejudice in housing or rejection from relatives. They are exposed to harsh temperatures during heat waves due to a lack of suitable shelter, which raises their risk of heat-related dehydration. There are no official shelters or safe space for them to stay and survive. There is a tendency of transgender people experiencing violence and discrimination in the unofficial shelters home or the shelters designated to women or men specifically. There are experiences observed and heard of transgenders facing abuse while going back home or from the individuals offering a temporary shelter in such situations. These experiences have further reduced the places they can seek safety during severe weather. During this time if they have any issues within their community or have some fights they cannot also return to their ‘gurus’ (indigenous term for transgender parent or guardian) and have to remain homeless until this resolute and they have to survive on the streets.
They are exposed to harsh temperatures during heat waves due to a lack of suitable shelter, which raises their risk of heat-related dehydration.
Heat, health and the hijras!
Significant health concerns are associated with heat waves, especially for vulnerable groups. In Pakistan, transgender persons are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses because of things like hormone therapy, which can interfere with thermoregulation, and restricted access to medical care. Furthermore, a lot of transgender people have trouble getting access to healthcare that is gender affirming, which exacerbates already-existing health inequities. Heat-related ailments like heat stroke and exhaustion can have dangerous outcomes, particularly if prompt medical attention is not received.
Encountering financial obstacles keep the transgender persons distanced from receiving high-quality medical care, particularly during heat waves. Many transgender people lack access to steady jobs and are not part of the self paid pool of any healthcare insurances. This makes it difficult for them to pay for necessary medicines, IV drips, or oral rehydration salts to treat heat-related health outcomes or morbidities. Due to the exorbitant expense of these medical equipment and the dearth of financial resources, even basic healthcare becomes unaffordable under grave circumstances. Because they cannot afford the therapies needed to treat heat-related symptoms and dehydration, transgender people are left especially susceptible during heat waves, which exacerbates their already presenting health conditions. Unfortunately, there is no government fund, finance, subsidy or insurance available until now for transgender persons in Pakistan.
Heat wave and mental health of transgender persons
It is impossible to overestimate the psychological effects of heat waves on transgender persons. Extreme weather events exacerbate the burden of navigating daily life in the face of widespread discrimination, which can worsen feelings of loneliness, sadness, and anxiety. Furthermore, as tensions build owing to resource scarcity and heightened vulnerability, the risk of violence or harassment, may get worse during heat waves.
The other general mental health impacts that everyone faces are also not different for transgender persons. Heat waves frequently cause sleep disturbances by making an individual lousy and uncomfortable resulting in lack of energy, poor concentration, tiredness and irritability. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can also affect cognitive function, making it harder to focus and make judgments. Furthermore, anxiety can be elevated by the worrying for finances, personal and community members’ health, heat-related impacts or homeless-ness. Heat wave can impact general public and they are also not out in the sun leading to no source of income form begging, no clients for sex work and no parties or events for them to dance also becomes are source of distress.
As tensions build owing to resource scarcity and heightened vulnerability, the risk of violence or harassment, may get worse during heat waves.
Pakistan already faces many troubles with mental health service provisions and they are experienced to be not transgender friendly. The burden of the health wave puts a high notch for transgender persons to build their resilience within themselves or seek support from community members, as a safer space.
The way forward:
Notwithstanding these obstacles, Pakistani transgender persons exhibit incredible fortitude in the face of hardship. When it comes to offering transgender people assistance, resources, and advocacy during heat waves and other emergencies, grassroots organizations and advocacy groups are essential. Enhancing resilience and empowering transgender communities to lessen the effects of heat waves can be accomplished through programs like safe space creation and community-led disaster preparation training.
In order to effectively address the effects of heat waves on transgender people in Pakistan, a multifaceted strategy that takes social, economic, and health inequities into account is needed. It is imperative for policymakers to give precedence to the integration of transgender persons in disaster preparedness and response activities, guaranteeing that emergency services and shelters are inclusive and easily accessible. Additionally, creating resilient communities that can resist the effects of climate change requires measures to promote social inclusion and fight discrimination.
In the end!
Heat waves increase social, economic, and health inequalities that already exist among transgender people in Pakistan. It is essential to take a comprehensive approach to effectively address these issues, addressing the underlying reasons of marginalization and prejudice while simultaneously improving access to economic, housing, and healthcare possibilities. By giving transgender communities’ needs top priority in efforts to adapt to climate change and respond to disasters, we can create more inclusive and resilient societies that uphold the rights and welfare of every person, regardless of gender identity.
- Hijras Facing the Heat too: The Impact of Heat Wave on Transgender Persons in Pakistan - August 10, 2024
- “The Exclusive Male Extravaganza” – Developing Comfort of Male Advocates Regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health Advocacy - June 22, 2018
- Sex-Platter: Wise Portion, Healthy Sexuality - October 30, 2017