It is now a truth universally acknowledged and cemented that the United States of America and their collected and federal efforts to provide sustainable and reliable health care for women are next to ineffective; almost non-existing.
So, it comes to no surprise when the Population Institute, an international non-profit organization that advocates ubiquitous access to health, education, and basic services, sent the Land of Freedom an expected yet mollifying “D” on its annual report card.
The report card used four focal points to analyze the status of reproductive health care in the country. These are effectiveness of the programs presented, prevention of unwanted pregnancy, affordability of such necessary and almost-daily services, and access.
Unfortunately, women, especially those who live in the South—a cluster of unapologetically conservative states—suffers from farcical health care, with the states getting an F.
According to Population Institute, The U.S.’s House of Representatives, which has more Republicans, “held up emergency funding for the Zika virus for several months in a vain attempt to prevent Planned Parenthood… from receiving any of the funds.”
The House also tried to defund Title X, a program old enough to be a millennial’s parent that caters to low-income women and provide them with basic and necessary services in safe clinics.
The House also cling to the idea that “abstinence-only” programs would work better than sex education. Hint: It never had, it never has, and it never will.
Women who live on the west coast, from Washington to California, can be rest assured that they can confidently walk into any women’s health clinic and get the service that they deserve.
Population Institute believes that things would only get worse for women and the state of reproductive health in 2017. With the election of a Republican president, male opinion will continue to dominate over female body issues. Masculinity will remain fragile and will attempt to assert it in oppressing women.
The fact that one of the richest and most developed countries in the world gets a D on reproductive health is not only embarrassing, but it also runs against the ideals and principles that this country boasts itself upholding.
Source: Political 2 Cents
