Tanzanians With Disorder Of Sex Development Appeals For Govt Support

 By STAFF REPORTER 

THE Tanzanians with biological challenge of disorder of sex development (gender ambiguity) have challenged the government to improve policies and regulations which will help to create friendly environment for them to access vital social services, as well as be free from discriminations.

They have raised concerns of being denied to access important social services, including education, health, birth certificates and traveling documents -passport and VISA -due to their gender ambiguity.

 Baby John Musamba, the Founder of Tanzania Voice of Humanity (TVH), who is also the victim of disorder of sex development (gender ambiguity) speaks during the event.

The biological handicapped Tanzanians expressed their plights during a special one-day seminar organized by the Tanzania Voice of Humanity (TVH) in Dodoma Capital City, the round table gathering which attracted high profile medical specialists, teachers and representatives from the parliamentary committee on social services and community development.

In her presentation during the sensible event, Dr. Edna Majaliwa, a Pediatric Endocrinologist from Muhimbili Hospital, said there are only eight medical specialists in Tanzania with knowledge to dispense services towards the people with disorder of sex development (DSD).

"DSD is congenital condition in which development of chromosomal gononadal or anatomical sex is typical," she said.

She added, most of the relevant victims are going to hospitals with their parents while still at earlier ages, but professionally, they' re required to attend to hospitals when reaching 18 years old.

"We recommend them to come to hospitals at the age of above 18 so that they can decide over their future gender status, whether to be operated to remain male or female" she observed.

And Dr. Majaliwa added, principally, the victims of the bi- sexual challenge are always experiencing activeness of one sexual organ than the other, the natural situation which often compels for the suppression of the weak organ and activation of the strong one.

According to her, most of the victims are however failing to access medical treatment due to high prices set for operations, which ranges from 100,000/- to 900,000.

For his part, the Director for Finance and Project Planned for TVH, Frank Musamba said it was very unfortunate that even the country has no proper statistics (record) over the number of Tanzanians who are experiencing gender ambiguity.

 " It’s very disconcerting that we even tried to lobby for possibility for this year's Population and Housing Census (PHS) to include collection of numbers of peoples with disorder of sex disorder in Tanzania with no good avail", he informed.

He detailed, according to a slim survey conducted by the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), up to last year (2021) there are a total of 26 adults with gender ambiguity in Tanzania and 11children, making a total of 37 victims.

"Dar es Salaam region leads with 9 victims, Kagera 6," he said, adding, ``Lake Zone accounts for 30.3 percent of the victims, whereas Coastal region has 27 percent" he divulged.

Baby John Musamba, the founder of Tanzania Voice of Humanity (TVH), who is also the victim of the 'serious health challenge' said people with DSD are unfortunately discriminated against even by their families. " I didn't initiate this NGO in order to seek for public sympathy, but to voice for the ' voiceless 'of the Tanzanians who dwells with this challenge," she said.

In experiencing more agonies, Musamba said the situation was resulting in serious psychological effects.

The Tanzania Voice of Humanity (TVH) is registered as a Non- Governmental organization under the Non - Governmental Organization Act, No 24 of 2002 with the major vision to ensure community with people disabilities and marginalized groups who are recognized, healthy, just, economically stable and well protected.