May 4, 2011

THE POSITIVE TRUTH ABOUT PLANNED PARENTHOOD



Guests: Meg Robertson, Nurse Practitioner and lead clinician
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin

Tanya Atkinson, Executive Director
Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin

For almost a century in the U.S. and 75 years in Wisconsin, Planned Parenthood has been the leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. One in five women in the U.S. has visited a Planned Parenthood center. Every year, Planned Parenthood affiliates provide: contraception to nearly 2.5 million patients; more than 1.1 million pregnancy tests; nearly one million Pap tests, identifying about 93,000 women at risk of developing cervical cancer; 830,000 breast exams; nearly 4 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV; more than 1.5 million emergency contraception kits, and education and school-based programs to nearly 1.2 million people. In addition, Planned Parenthood provides prenatal care, immunizations, high blood pressure, anemia and diabetes screenings, counsels people about smoking cessation and obesity, and connects them to other primary-care providers and social services.

These services are now at risk as Congress and our State Legislature contemplate cutting federal and state funding for Planned Parenthood. This radio program discusses the multiple health services provided and the five myths about Planned Parenthood including the role and separation of abortion from the totality of care provided.

More information can be found at www.ppwi.org.