Minister for Equality, Research and Innovation Owen Bonnici launched the Transform project, which includes two awareness campaigns related to health care services.
The first one is aimed at signposting health care settings as safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTIQ patients. The other is aimed at raising awareness among LGBTIQ persons on a number of specific health risks experienced by this cohort and disseminating information about existing health services targeting the LGBTIQ community and how to access these services.
During his speech, Minister Bonnici said that this is another step towards full equality in our country. “To have equality, we cannot just treat everyone the same. To offer truly equitable services, we first need to recognise our diversities and the needs arising from them. It is only upon reaching that target that we would be in the best position to provide the services and information required.”
He thanked the Human Rights Directorate within the ministry for the lead role on this project.
Over the past two years, the Human Rights Directorate and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health; Ghent University Hospital; MCFD; MUMN; Steward Health Care; ILGA-Europe and TGEU have been engaged in the implementation of the project TRANSFORM: Raising Standards of Health Care Service Provision for LGBTIQ people. This project is co-funded by the Rights Equality and Citizenship Programme of the European Union.
Source: Office of the Prime Minister