Planned Parenthood Receives $250,000 for Health Care Service Expansion in Sarasota
For Immediate Release: Oct. 9, 2016
Sarasota, FL - Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida (PPSWCF) is excited to announce the award of grants from local and national funders including Jane’s Trust and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation totaling $250,000. These grants will enable the organization to help meet the primary care needs in Sarasota County.
“For nearly 50 years, Floridians have relied on Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida for comprehensive reproductive health care and information, including life-saving breast and cervical cancer screenings, birth control, vasectomies, HIV/AIDS testing and counseling, STD testing and treatment, and routine gynecological care,” said Barbara Zdravecky CEO for PPSWCF. “With this support, we will now be able to expand services at our Sarasota Health Center to include limited primary care.”
This latest service expansion for PPSWCF’s Sarasota location will allow the organization to provide early diagnosis and treatment for patients at elevated risk for developing certain chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, asthma and hyperthyroidism. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, more than 65,000 Sarasota residents are uninsured. With a poverty rate of 12% coupled with a shortage of primary care providers many Sarasota residents face deep health care disparities that Planned Parenthood is working to combat.
“For many patients Planned Parenthood is their only health care provider, “said Dr. Suzie Prabhakaran, VP of Medical Affairs for PPSWCF. “Expanding our services to include a primary care physician as well as additional training for our staff of licensed clinicians allows us to provide comprehensive healthcare to the people in Sarasota County who need it most.”
Access to affordable primary care can save families from bankruptcy, promote healthy living, and reduce future healthcare costs. Without adequate preventive care, many of those without care end up in our emergency rooms, costing the community additional dollars. In response to local health departments facing limitations in providing primary care, Sarasota County officials have expressed a desire to keep such services local. Planned Parenthood agrees, and with special consideration to the healthcare needs in the southern part of Sarasota County, these grants allow Planned Parenthood to continue their commitment of breaking barriers to care while simultaneously improving community health outcomes too. These services, coupled with the generosity of donors and the support of other nonprofit partners will help build a healthier Sarasota for all.
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Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida, an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, began operations in 1966 and provides vital sexual and reproductive health services and comprehensive sexuality education to women, men and teens in Ft. Myers, Immokalee, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Manatee, Naples, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Tampa. The mission of Planned Parenthood is to ensure the right of all individuals to manage their sexual and reproductive health by providing medical services, education and advocacy. Go to www.myplannedparenthood.org for information or call (941) 365.3913.
Source
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida
Contact
Anna Eskamani: 941-209-7940, [email protected]
Published
October 10, 2016
Updated
October 09, 2016