After Paul Ryan confirmed that the GOP will repeal the Affordable Care Act and defund Planned Parenthood, advocates for the nonprofit organization scrambled to help the millions of women who rely on PP for birth control and standard health screenings. Since initial threats, Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, says that the organization has seen a large increase in women seeking Planned Parenthood services since the election.
“We’ve had a 900% increase in women trying to get into Planned Parenthood to get an IUD because they are desperately concerned that they might lose their access to health care and they know that Planned Parenthood is the place that can provide it,” Richards explained during a CNN International segment with Christiane Amanpour.
The increase comes as no surprise, as women immediately began urging peers to get the IUD right after the election, in fear that Trump would dramatically roll back access to birth control. Sadly Paul Ryan confirmed those fears late last week, a move that Richards said could be detrimental to millions of women.
“What we’re talking about now in fact and what Paul Ryan, Speaker Ryan, said the other day, is now they will end access to Planned Parenthood preventive care,” she said.
While things might seem hopeless, Richards urged those concerned with the current political climate to keep fighting.
“I think what is important is that women and men who are concerned about the future of women’s rights and women’s health in the U.S., that they make their voices heard in whatever way, whether they march, or whether they call their member of Congress, or call their Senators,” she said.
Fight for what you believe in and never keep quiet. Find out ways you can support Planned Parenthood below.
[H/T: Refinery29]
