Reproductive health funding a positive sign: SERC

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This article was published 13/05/2022 (1643 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Sexuality Education Resource Centre in Brandon is pleased to see the federal government is stepping up to ensure access to abortion services and health information.

Earlier this week, federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced more than $3.5 million in funding for two initiatives that are aimed at improving access to abortion services and reproductive health information in Canada. Duclos added at the time this was to ensure services are available all over Canada, especially in rural and remote areas where access could be limited or not available at all.

Action Canada will receive $2.1 million over three years to improve information and referral services, Duclos said. The funding will also be used to cover some travel and accommodation costs for people seeking abortions.

The National Abortion Federation Canada will get $1.4 million in funding over three years also to train health-care providers to perform abortions and ensure facilities have the capacity to provide the service.

Even though they have not received specific details on how the funding will affect them, Kerri Judd, program manager for the Sexuality Education Resource Centre (SERC) in Brandon, is still glad to see it coming.

“I’m delighted more funding is being injected into these programs for education and accessibility, especially for the rural and remote communities,” said Judd.

SERC offers education and prevention around sexuality and reproductive health. The organization offers information on birth control, reproduction and abortion access. It also provides information about accessibility in Brandon and the Westman area.

Access to information and services related to reproductive health can be limited in rural and remote areas. Even communities just an hour north from Brandon have difficulties accessing any services, Judd said.

Earlier this month, documents were leaked from the Supreme Court of the United States indicating lawmakers were ready to strike down the historic Roe v. Wade ruling of 1973 that legalized abortion at the federal level.

While an American issue, Judd said the timing of the Canadian announcement is good as it reassures to Manitobans there are services available for them and accessibility will not change. The hope is more money will come soon, Judd said, as it was set out in the 2021 budget.

For Judd and SERC, this is a health and science issue. Anyone who can experience a pregnancy should have the right to decide what is best for them and that decision should be based on accurate, non-judgmental and comprehensive information. She said SERC and other organizations are using inclusive language on purpose because this involves LGBTQ2+ as well.

“They should be given all the information to make an informed decision, which is important when it comes down to reproductive health.”

One thing SERC does convey to people seeking information is there are some options for terminating a pregnancy and they are either medical, which is the pill RU-486 that can be taken up to nine weeks into a pregnancy. That was made available to the public in Canada in 2017, according to Action Canada’s website.

The other option is surgical, which is known as dilation and curettage, or DNC, which physically removes tissue from inside the uterus. That can be done as an elective surgery up to 12 weeks. A procedure after 12 weeks requires a doctor’s referral.

In terms of abortion rights being potentially rolled back in the United States, she pointed out that won’t stop abortions, it will only make them less safe. In addition, there will be others forced to continue a pregnancy when they don’t want it.

“For us, this is a human rights issue and we are glad it is being reinforced,” she said.

» kmckinley@brandonsun.com, with files from The Brandon Sun

» Twitter: @karenleighmcki1