Letter of the Day | Healthcare with dignity for every Jamaican

THE EDITOR, Madam:

In Jamaica, we like to say, “Wi likkle but wi tallawah.” We take pride in our resilience, our willingness to help one another, and our belief that, when times get hard, someone will lend a hand. But, what happens when the person who needs that hand is afraid to ask for it?

For some transgender and gender-non-conforming Jamaicans, everyday life can involve the fear of being mocked, rejected, harassed, or treated differently because of who they are or how they express themselves. This is especially concerning when it comes to healthcare.

When you are sick, you should not have to wonder whether a nurse will laugh at you, whether a doctor will make assumptions about you, or whether you will receive less respect because of your gender identity or appearance. Healthcare should be about healing, not humiliation.

Evidence shows that stigma and discrimination can become barriers to healthcare. When people fear mistreatment, they may avoid seeking medical attention, delay preventive care, or withhold important information from healthcare providers. This can worsen health outcomes and undermine public health efforts.

Research has highlighted these concerns among LGBT Jamaicans. Studies have found that stigma, discrimination, and violence can affect access to services and limit full participation in society. More recent findings have also pointed to significant barriers faced by transgender and gender-diverse people in accessing essential services.

This is not about creating special treatment for anyone. It is about ensuring that the core principles of healthcare, respect, confidentiality, compassion, and competent care apply to everyone.

The conversation about transgender and gender-non-conforming Jamaicans should not be reduced to political or cultural debates. At its heart, it is also a healthcare issue. When illness strikes, everyone wants to be treated with dignity and respect. Nobody wants to be viewed as a controversy while seeking medical attention.

Jamaicans may not agree on every question surrounding gender identity, and healthy debate is part of our culture. However, disagreement should never become a licence to humiliate someone or make them afraid to seek care.

At the end of the day, every Jamaican deserves to feel safe when visiting a doctor, clinic, or hospital. If we truly value strength, resilience, and community, those values must be reflected in how we treat people when they are at their most vulnerable. Healthcare should never determine a person’s dignity based on who they are.

Let us build a Jamaica where getting sick is not made harder by the fear of being yourself.

Mekhi Salmon

Programmes and Advocacy

Officer