A transgender couple, which was recently blessed with a baby, has approached the hospital authorities demanding to register their new gender identity in the birth certificate and other documents of the newborn.
What did the couple say?
Though Zahhad had delivered the child, the trans-man wanted his name to be registered as the father of the baby and Ziya Paval, his trans woman partner as its mother.
Paval told reporters that a request has been submitted to the Government Medical College Hospital authorities here for the same.
"We gave a letter to the hospital authorities in this regard and they assured us that it will be considered. As per the recent verdicts of the Supreme Court and the Transgender Persons Act 2019, we have the right to change our gender," she said.
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Paval also said they have the transgender identity card issued by the Union government and so they expect that there won't be any legal hurdle to get their request granted.
Asked how the baby and its "father" were doing, she said both of them are perfectly ok and happy.
"Me and Zahhad are enjoying every bit of these happy days and our parenthood. The happiness of having a biological child is beyond words. This is our own child...no one can stake any claim on our baby...We are confident that the baby won't leave us one day as we are its actual parents," an excited Paval added.
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The trans woman said the hospital authorities are ensuring breast milk to the child at frequent intervals from their breast milk bank and supporting them in all possible ways.
Zahhad and Ziya who recently announced pregnancy, became parents of a baby at a State-run hospital in Kozhikode on Wednesday, considered to be the first such case in the country.
"The baby was born by around 9.30 am through a Caesarean Section at the Government Medical College Hospital," Ziya Paval, one of the trans-partners, told reporters
However, the trans person declined to reveal the gender of the newborn and said they did not want to make it public right now.
Congratulating the couple over phone, Kerala Health Minister Veena George said she would meet them when she visits Kozhikode next time.
In a statement, George's office said the Minister spoke to the Medical College superintendent too and directed provision of all necessary treatment for both the baby and Zahhad free of cost.
A special panel of doctors was formed for Zahhad's delivery, and a separate room was allotted to both.
The Caesarean Section was required due to the shooting up of diabetes in the morning. If the health condition is satisfactory, they can leave the hospital within three or four days, the statement added.
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Paval also expressed her happiness over the minister's gesture, it said.
(With PTI Inputs)
