It would be a lie to say that I was surprised by the shutdown of Planned Parenthood clinics in Louisiana, especially with political tensions on the rise. The one thing that I can say is that I and many others were disappointed to hear this news for a multitude of reasons.
The Planned Parenthood in New Orleans served this community for 40 years. While never allowed to adminster abortions it still provided a number of services. All which include: birth control, plan B pill, HIV and STD related services, pregnancy testing and planning, postpartum and prenatal related services, cancer screenings, vaccines, and gender affirming care.
This organization also took a type of insurance called Medicaid, an affordable healthcare program for those who qualify.
So with that being said, it is fair to say that this could be considered an attack on those who need it most – because it is.
This decision reveals a deep lack of empathy, not just within the healthcare system, but toward the people most affected by it.
The bill that resulted in the shutting down of Planned Parenthoods’ directly targeted Medicaid and the service that used it to keep afloat. Before this bill was passed, there wasn’t a main problem with these organizations running.
“The closures were “not the result of a lack of need” but rather the outcome of relentless political assaults that have made it impossible for us to continue operating sustainably in Louisiana,” stated by the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast, Melaney Linton.
With these types of cuts, it’s pushing back those who depend on these programs financially. With the economic state we live in right now, it’s getting harder and harder to find and keep a stable income, even with getting a college degree. For people struggling to make ends meet, this feels like a slap in the face, as if the message is: “You can’t afford a test that could save your life? Too bad.”
Last year, more than 16,000 patients used the New Orleans based clinic. 9,000 of those patients came in for family related services like birth control and annual exams. This proves the fact that there is a great number of women that are in need of these services. Whether that service involves preventing a pregnancy or supporting a woman who could be pregnant. Some who are in situations like these might not be mentally or economically prepared for that journey in life. Planned Parenthood gave women in this city the tools to help get their footing. Without that help, it would be making it harder for mothers and their future children down the line. In a way, this removal is blaming these women for having these families when they might need a little help with them.
Lets not forget to mention everybody else who partakes in sexual activities, especially the young people of this city, including students at Loyola. College is a time for young people to discover themselves in every way that applies to them. For a lot of them, that means sexually. But not everyone receives the same level of sexual education. say if a student with a lack of sexual education has something happen and they don’t know what to do. If they don’t want to tell their parents, the one place that they might know to go to is not there anymore. Making it harder for them to find the help that they need.
As stated before, this is a result of a lack of empathy. Specifically, not thinking through on how this type of situation could affect the thousands of people that are put at risk because of it. There is going to be an increase in sexual related health situations, there is no doubt about it. In fact I could guarantee it. This situation sends a specific message. One saying that you have to deal with the cards that you were dealt with. That there is nobody coming to help you. Even more so, because these clinics aren’t getting funned, you as patients don’t matter.
60% of Planned Parenthood patients in Louisiana used Medicaid for their services. Since so many people use Medicaid for not only services like these, but for their medical needs in general, would it be crazy to think that other medical practices are in danger too because of this bill? I personally think it wouldn’t be. If our government is content with taking this resource away from these people who would need it, what makes it outlandish to think that other resources would be taken away too. So I wouldn’t be surprised if we hear news of other organizations being shut down because of bills like these.
I encourage those that are reading to learn as much as you can on the topic of sexual education and what are the options you have now. Because it’s important to keep yourselves safe during these concerning times. Hopefully, things start to look up for not only the state of Louisiana, but our country as a whole.
