Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 23, 1992 TAG: 9203230187
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHLEEN O'MALLEY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Women often bear the brunt of cutbacks and layoffs that characterize a recession. Teamed with our nation's shocking health-care crisis, the situation makes it virtually impossible for many to receive even the most basic medical services.
Women, particularly caregivers, have a regrettable tendency to put themselves last. They're reluctant to spend money on themselves, even for health care. A professional gynecological exam is essential, but very often postponed or ignored altogether. It's hard to think about that in the struggle to make ends meet, putting food on the table and shoes on the children.
Planned Parenthood of the Blue Ridge has received a private grant that is to be used to set up a revolving fund that reduces or defers medical fees for qualified women. The fund covers certain forms of birth control, including Norplant, and medical procedures necessary after an abnormal pap smear. The goal of the grant is to increase the awareness of the importance of preventive health care and to put such care financially within reach of all women.
Those are the facts. Nothing "back-door" about it.
The men and women who work at Planned Parenthood are family-oriented, generous and compassionate. They come from diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds and hold varying personal feelings about abortion.
What binds them together is a firm conviction that every American has a basic right to choose. They agree that, as Virginia Del. Bernard Cohen, D-Alexandria, said last Jan. 22, "the proper role of government in a free society is to allow different traditions to advocate their respective views on abortion, and to leave the decision to the woman, answering to God and to her conscience."
Planned Parenthood's stance on our nation's reproductive health laws is clear. They proudly, openly and honestly support our fundamental rights and freedom of choice. That is not hypocritical behavior.
So yes, I agree. Let the public beware. Let them be educated. Let them arm themselves with medical facts about their sexuality and their health care. Let them visit Planned Parenthood and meet the people there.
Prejudice, in any arena, is a sad mixture of ignorance and fear. Informed people are able to rid themselves of that and make wise, healthy choices. And when they form their opinions, they base them on the facts, ma'am. Just the facts.
\ AUTHOR Kathleen O'Malley lives in Roanoke and is marketing consultant for Planned Parenthood.
by CNB