Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Alarmed and Saddened by Komen Foundation Succumbing to Political Pressure, February 1, 2012

(Hawthorne, NY) – Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic (PPHP) today expressed deep disappointment in response to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation’s decision to stop funding breast cancer prevention, screenings, and education at Planned Parenthood health centers.

Anti-women’s health groups repeatedly have targeted and boycotted the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation for partnering with Planned Parenthood to provide these lifesaving cancer screenings. The AP reported that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation ultimately succumbed to these pressures.

“Planned Parenthood is a trusted leader in helping women identify breast cancer early. Women are deeply alarmed that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation appears to have succumbed to political pressure from a vocal minority”, said Reina Schiffrin, President/CEO, PPHP. “For years, opponents of women’s health have waged an aggressive pressure campaign aimed at the Susan G. Komen Foundation at the expense of women’s health and lives.”

While not directly affected by the Komen Foundation’s decision, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic is deeply concerned about the troubling precedent of putting politics before women’s health. In 2011, PPHP provided over 9,300 breast health exams to women in need of this service.

“In these tough economic times, more women than ever need access to essential health care services like lifesaving breast cancer screenings. Politics should never get in the way of a woman’s ability to access health care,” added Schiffrin.

The Komen-funded Planned Parenthood programs have been instrumental in helping women get breast health care and detect breast cancer early, especially women in rural and underserved communities. Over the past five years, these Komen-funded Planned Parenthood health centers provided nearly 170,000 clinical breast exams out of the more than four million clinical breast exams performed nationwide at Planned Parenthood health centers, as well as more than 6,400 mammogram referrals out of 70,000 mammogram referrals.

Planned Parenthood's high quality health care, accessibility, and affordability make it a leader in identifying breast cancer early when there is the best chance of successful treatment. Nationwide,
Planned Parenthood doctors and nurses provide nearly 750,000 breast cancer screenings annually, offering risk assessments, breast exams, breast health information and education, and diagnostic and surgical referrals.

One in five women in America has come to Planned Parenthood at some point in her life. More than 90 percent of Planned Parenthood health care services are preventive in nature, including lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control, testing for and treatment of STDs, breast health services, Pap tests, and sexual health education and information.

###

Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, Inc (PPHP) is the 16th largest affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and operates 12 medical centers in Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland, and Putnam Counties. In 2010, PPHP provided services to over 35,000 patients in nearly 70,000 visits. We conducted 1,900 education programs reaching over 35,000 youth and adults, and mobilized approximately 10,000 advocates to protect reproductive health care rights. PPHP has served the community for 78 years, and is dedicated to educating and empowering individuals to make responsible choices regarding their sexuality and sexual health. Planned Parenthood has done more to reduce the incidence of abortion and unintended pregnancy than any other health care provider or advocacy group. PPHP is headquartered in Hawthorne NY. For more information about PPHP services and programs, visit www.pphp.org. Find us on Facebook and MySpace, and follow us on Twitter.