The Best Way To EL RIO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

Avoiding an unplanned pregnancy and getting a safe abortion are not just rights, they're a necessity for many women. Yet the US government does not provide any federal funding for abortions - leaving many low-income women without access to the care they need. For these women, education is often their only option - by learning about abortion you can help spread this much-needed information to those in your community who need it most."

The El Rio Community Health Center provides free legal abortion, as well as gynecological exams and birth control, because of its dedication to providing healthcare services that underserved communities deserve. El Río provides other medical recommendations and options for those who are uninsured or have limited income.

What does El Río Community Health Center offer?

El Río provides numerous services for women in need including pregnancy tests, treatments for STDs and HIV, birth control, and gynecological exams. Additionally, the clinic provides legal abortions without any cost because the government will not fund them. These women's needs and rights are important to El Río because it is one of the few clinics that will provide such a service free of charge. The clinic also offers classes in sex education, as well as general information about reproductive healthcare.

In Texas, will many local women be affected by El Río's closure?

No. El Río is a name that is well known in the Rio Grande Valley and throughout Texas. While some of the true needs of the uninsured and underserved communities are not met by El Río, they are still able to access other clinics that provide care through private or government funding. The main impact will come from the closure of one clinic which provides services in a particular geographical area but still leaves many women without access to basic healthcare services when their legal options are so limited.

How will the women of Texas be affected by the closure?

The women and families of Texas will be severely affected by this closure because it will leave them with limited options. Once El Río closes, there are no other clinics that provide abortions in the Rio Grande Valley. These families and women will be forced to travel large distances to get abortions. Many women lack transportation or family support to help them travel so far, which means that this closure thrusts a lot of people into a very difficult situation. Because many communities are so close knit, one woman's struggle is often many other women's struggles, and when a clinic like El Río closes it only serves to exacerbate the struggles of many, rather than alleviate them.

What services will be provided without El Río?

The mission of El Río Community Health Center was to provide abortions, gynecological care, and legal guidance to those who need it. While the clinic will still provide these services, it will not be able to meet all of the local needs. The only option left for abortion care in the Rio Grande Valley is a privately owned clinic that only services women in one city, Austin. Another option that is left for women is to travel long distances to receive abortions at clinics in other cities. It has been estimated that El Río provided over 2500 free abortions since its opening.

What are the main ongoing services that the Women's Center provides?

The primary informative program at El Río is its two-hour-long educational meetings on sexuality, contraception, and HIV. These meetings provide information to women who are interested in learning more about their reproductive health by providing a wide array of helpful resources. Additionally, El Río also offers testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and in-house gynecological care. Many of the aforementioned services will remain available even if the clinic closes.

Conclusion

The close of this clinic is a grim reminder that healthcare and women's rights are only safe when they are funded by the government. If El Río is forced to close, many people in the Rio Grande Valley will be left without basic healthcare services or a safe place to have legal abortions. It is important that people speak up and let their politicians know that it is unacceptable for them to refuse government funding for abortion providers and ignore the needs of their constituents.