In line with the International Day of Action for Trans Depathologization, the Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN), ASHM, IHRI and FHI will host a webinar that will facilitate cross-country sharing of health practices, policies and laws, including pathologization that continues to deprive trans people access to gender-affirming and general healthcare and to live authentically as themselves, especially in this times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Date: 22 October 2020
Time: Bangkok/Jakarta (13:00), Sydney/Melbourne (17:00),Brisbane (16:00), Auckland (19:00), Manila (14:00), Kathmandu (11:45), Colombo (11:30), Suva (18:00)
Duration: 90 mins
AGENDA
- Introduction: Joe Wong, Executive Director, APTN; Dr. Darren Russel, Adjunct Professor, Director of Sexual Health, Cairns Sexual Health Service (Australia)
- COVID-19 and its social, economical, health, rights and organising impact on trans people
Moderator: Kritima (Jemma) Samitpol, IHRI (Thailand)
Dr. Darren Russel, Adjunct Professor, Director of Sexual Health, Cairns Sexual Health Service (Australia)
Alegra Wolter, MD, GWL-INA (Indonesia)
Ar Arcon, Pioneer FTM (Philippines)
Chamindra Weerawardhana, Venasa (Sri Lanka)
Jack Byrne, Trans Health Research Lab, TransAction (New Zealand)
Rukshana Kapali, Trans Rights Collective (Nepal)
- Learning from COVID-19 to further optimize trans health: Dr. Nittaya Phanuphak, Director, IHRI (Thailand)
- Q&A session
- Key insights and takeaway from the region: Matthew Avery, FHI 360
6. Closing: Dr. Darren Russel, Adjunct Professor, Director of Sexual Health, Cairns Sexual Health Service (Australia), Joe Wong, Executive Director, APTN.
Registration is required to join the zoom webinar. Please click on button below to register.
About ASHM:
ASHM International provides technical expertise in health workforce development for HIV, viral hepatitis and sexual health. Our specialist team engages globally with governments, non-government organisations, professional societies, community organisations, faith-based organisations and academic institutions. We provide tailored health workforce development and strengthen the capacity of health systems to enable high quality management of blood-borne viruses (BBV) and sexually transmissible infections for all including vulnerable and at higher risk populations.
In response to COVID-19, ASHM established the COVID-19, BBV and Sexual Health Regional Advisory Group. The purpose of the group is to provide health workers, civil society and other sector organisations with guidance during COVID-19. The group also provides a platform through our webinar series for sharing of lessons learnt across the region in maintaining and where possible strengthening HIV, sexual health and BBV prevention, testing, treatment and care during the pandemic.
About FHI 360:
FHI 360 (formerly Family Health International) is an international nonprofit working to improve the health and well-being of people in the United States and around the world. We team with governments and civil society to create jobs, educate children, provide lifesaving health care and bring about positive social change. We do this by using research and evidence to design and deliver programs that increase access to services, change behaviors and improve lives.
FHI 360 is currently implementing The Meeting Targets and Maintaining Epidemic Control (EpiC) project which provides strategic technical assistance and direct service delivery to achieve HIV epidemic control and promote self-reliant management of national HIV programs by improving case finding, prevention, treatment programming and viral load suppression. EpiC also offers technical assistance for emergency, mid-term and longer-term COVID-19 responses in many countries for instance in Africa (Egypt, Eswatini, Liberia, Nigeria), Asia and the Pacific (Fiji, Indonesia, Kiribati, Maldives, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand) and Latin America (El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay).
About IHRI:
Institute of HIV Research and Innovation (IHRI) is a non-profit organization who has achieved recognition for its work, including clinical and operational research, policy mobilization and development projects for community health services, at national and international levels. These projects are beneficial to the public as well as the country and the region.
IHRI aims to be a leader in research and innovation concerning prevention of HIV and other health priorities, based on equity and community partnership, in order to advocate for the health-for-all policy changes.