By Dianne Anderson

Too much silence at a time of deep federal cuts to critical programs has some health advocates more than a little nervous, while others are coming out strong to continue the fight for health access and women’s rights.

Across the board, cuts will hit Black and Brown women especially hard, with Black women more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, two to three times as likely to have fatal breast cancer, higher rates of cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer.

The disparities are vast, but Nichole Ramirez of Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties  remains vocal about what’s at stake under Trump Administration cuts, but they are ready to hold the line.

“This is our mission, we are always going to fight for our patients no matter what. That’s why we’re here and our mission that’s what gets us up every single day,” she said. “We’re bracing for unprecedented challenges but we will always be  here for our patients and provide the services that they need.”

Despite potential funding reductions, she said that at this point the regional Planned Parenthood continues to offer the full range of reproductive health care services that the community has relied on for the past 60 years.

Their main services include birth control, cancer screening, STI testing/treatment, and abortion care. They also offer lesser-known services like vasectomy, miscarriage management, and comprehensive primary care with Melody Health.

At Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, she said they will continue their high-quality, compassionate reproductive health care, no matter what. They are also looking into multiple options to help mitigate any potential federal funding loss.

“We are starting to see the impact of the cruel policy changes coming out of the White House, including some patients being too scared to come in for needed health care services. While we don’t know exactly what will happen in the future, we remain committed to our mission to provide high-quality, compassionate care to anyone who walks through our doors, regardless of immigration status, insurance, or ability to pay,” she said.

But her greatest concern now is the major harm the cuts would cause the local community if there was a threat to health care access, especially for those who are underserved.

“Planned Parenthood is a lifeline for many people and sometimes the only health care provider they see. There will be a significant increase in health disparities and health outcomes if access to care is limited,” she said.

Three months ago, Attorney General Bonta released his statement that he is committed to protecting reproductive rights in California, and access to abortion care, no matter who is in the White House.

“We have been preparing for this moment, and today’s legislation doubles down on our commitment to protect those seeking reproductive healthcare, including access to medication abortion,” Bonta said. “Progress will always prevail, and I will use the full force of this office and all the tools at my disposal to fearlessly and fiercely defend your constitutional rights, including your reproductive rights.”

Onyemma Obiekea, Policy Director for Black Women for Wellness Action Project, said the state’s medication abortion protocols are not only safe, effective and the most widely used methods of abortion care, but also an integral part of the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare.

“Safeguarding continued access to medication abortion in California is imperative for women and birthing people in our state to make the best decisions for ourselves and our families with dignity. We are deeply grateful to the Attorney General and champions in the legislature, who are committed to ensuring that our communities have the resources necessary to support our reproductive autonomy and determine our reproductive destinies.”

In San Bernardino County, the Department of Public Health said they do not have specific local partnerships focused on early breast cancer screening and detection, but that Arrowhead Regional Medical Center operates a mobile clinic to provide mammograms and pap smears through the Every Woman Counts program.

Francis Delapaz,  spokesperson for the department, said the community can access local screenings at their Public Health Centers listed at https://dph.sbcounty.gov/programs/clinics.

Among several programs through the county, DPH Family Health Services offers maternal and child health, including Black Infant Health, California Home Visiting Program for in-home support to at-risk pregnant individuals and new parents. They also provide the Perinatal Equity Initiative to reduce racial disparities in maternal and infant health, and the Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health program to improve access and quality of healthcare for women, infants, children, and youth.

“The impact of potential federal funding changes on local services remains uncertain at this time. The Department of Public Health continues to monitor developments closely and assess any necessary adjustments to ensure continued support for vulnerable communities,” he said.

For more information on Planned Parenthood, see
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-orange-san-bernardino/about-us

To see Planned Parenthood’s last local Annual Report,
https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-orange-san-bernardino/about-us/annual-report-fy-23-24

For the County Clinics, see https://dph.sbcounty.gov/programs/clinics