|
*FROM PREVIOUS ISSUE
Words by: Mackenzie Dorsey President Donald Trump has spoken out about his personal views on Planned Parenthood by saying, “It’s like an abortion factory, frankly.” Unbeknownst to President Trump, Planned Parenthood offers a wide variety of services aside from abortions. These services include cancer screenings, STD testing, birth control, emergency contraception, and information on overall health for Americans all over the United States. This includes those who may or may not have adequate health insurance to cover the costs. President Trump signed a law on April 13, 2017, permitting each state the right to discontinue funding for facilities that provide abortion services. Planned Parenthood is just one of more than 600 abortion clinics nationwide at risk of losing public funding. Without organizations such as Planned Parenthood, women may face life-threatening alternative methods in order to undergo an abortion. Planned Parenthood’s 2016-2017 annual report showed that abortion services made up only 3% of administered services while STI testing and treatment services made up 47%. Looking at these numbers, it is apparent that Americans are content with utilizing their facilities to receive proper medical care. Medical care for pregnant women is often overlooked as being one of Planned Parenthood’s services. This is because the media is quick to cover the efforts the organization makes for those who are not ready to have a child, as opposed to those who choose to be pro-life. Women are able to experience a healthy pregnancy thanks to the resources and information provided at Planned Parenthood facilities. Prenatal care is one of the pregnancy services that is offered. Not all women can afford prenatal care from a gynecologist, making Planned Parenthood a suitable alternative. Many people remain uninformed of the other available health services at Planned Parenthood because abortion tends to be their most newsworthy service. Their facilities offer support for those within the LGBTQ+ community including information on sexual identity and orientation which may be vital for those seeking help. Alongside information about sexual identity, sexual education is yet another service provided by Planned Parenthood. The information is easy to access through their website and video series.Their website allows users to learn about reproductive health, sexually transmitted diseases, and birth control methods. Their website acquires over 73 million views each year. Cancer screenings are another lesser known service offered by Planned Parenthood. Having a safe and sterile environment is vital to those who are in need of accessible health care. Anyone is able to schedule an appointment to be screened for various types of cancers. These screenings save thousands of lives each year, if caught early enough, and allow people to form a plan of action. The Cancer Survivors Network for Planned Parenthood is a group founded by individuals whose cancer was detected at a Planned Parenthood facility. The group offers outlets to share stories about their cancer experiences. The main goal of the network is to openly support the facility and the screenings they provide. Trump’s plans to defund Planned Parenthood, due to his own personal beliefs, does not solely defund a facility that offers safe abortions. He is defunding a facility that offers affordable, safe, and legal general health care. Defunding Planned Parenthood will not stop abortions; it will stop safe abortions from being performed by medical professionals in a safe and sterile environment. If Trump continues to support laws that defund Planned Parenthood, many Americans risk losing access to reduced-cost health care. The American people have the right to safe, secure, and affordable health facilities. “Planned Parenthood believes sexual and reproductive health rights are basic rights,” and so should you.
0 Comments
|
