In 1974, one year after the US Supreme Court affirmed in Roe vs. Wade a woman’s right to an abortion, a group of local women founded on South Main St. in Concord the NH Women’s Health Services. The office provided a supportive environment for general gynecologic services and abortion care. Over the decades the name of the office evolved to the Feminist Health Center and today, with many more male clients, is the Equality Health Center. The current mix of services at the center includes: behavioral health 32% of visits, contraception, screening for cancer and addressing sex-related disease 27%, gender affirming hormonal care 25%, abortion and miscarriage care 12%, and HIV care 4%.

Despite our state’s Executive Council withholding federal funds meant to cover non-abortion reproductive services, the Center continues to offer a sliding fee scale and turns no one away due to their inability to pay. As the Center celebrates its 50th anniversary of serving our community, on Oct. 17 the Equality Health Center’s Anniversary Gala will be held at the Pembroke Pines Country Club. And please be mindful of the accessible health care the Equality Health Center offers to our entire community, particularly to some of our most vulnerable neighbors

Randy Hayes

Canterbury