The actions of our New Hampshire Executive Council last week were deeply disappointing to those of us who care about the health of the citizens of our state.
In a vote of 4-1, the Council rejected contracts for three reproductive health centers including Planned Parenthood of NH. This means that 80% percent of uninsured and underinsured women in our state will lose access to health care screening (exams, pap smears, mammograms) and birth control. It seems an irony that their vote will increase the risk for unplanned pregnancies and abortions.
A day later, in a 3-2 vote, the Council rejected $22.4 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fund the Immunization Program under the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021. In spite of the recent dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases throughout our communities and the irrefutable evidence from medicine, science and public health that the vaccine is effective and safe, we have members of our Council who are rejecting an opportunity to end the pandemic. Our leaders should not stand in the path of normalizing our lives.
As many have said before, public health should never be politicized. Sadly, I suspect the words of Sen. Cindy Rosenwald are accurate when she pointedly stated, “There is no reason to reject federal funding beyond political showmanship. Following the reckless anti-vaccination rally hosted by Speaker Packard, it is clearer than ever New Hampshire’s Republicans are not interested in protecting Granite Staters, only in protecting right-wing extremism.”
It is time for the majority of the citizens of New Hampshire, Republicans and Democrats, to reject these leaders who do not represent our needs and interests at heart.
(Oge Young is a retired OB-GYN and past president of New Hampshire Medical Society.)
My Turns are opinion-based essays submitted by Monitor readers and members of the community. The views expressed in My Turns are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Concord Monitor and its staff.