New Orleans Project 2007
Dr. Tiruchelvam with Shana Griffin, Executive Director of the New Orleans
Women’s Health and Justice Initiative, in front of the New Orleans Women’s
Health Clinic.
YCMF donated the $2,000 needed by the clinic to open its doors. Located in
historic Tremé, in an area that was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, the clinic
provides free medical care to indigent women.
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NEW ORLEANS WOMEN’S HEALTH CLINICHealth care for the poor in New
Orleans was inadequate even before Katrina struck. Louisiana ranked at the
bottom of all 50 states on most measures of the health of its residents. The
population suffered high rates of chronic diseases and ranked among the worst in
the nation for infant mortality, AIDS cases, and diabetes
mortality.
After Katrina battered New Orleans, health care for the poor
was devastated. The one “Charity Hospital” that had accepted the uninsured had
been closed. Shana Griffin and members of the New Orleans Women's Health and
Justice Initiative saw an immediate need and were determined to open a Clinic to
serve low-income women. The members were willing to do whatever was needed to
put together the clinic but were having difficulty raising enough money to
complete the work. York County Medical Foundation donated funds needed to
complete the outfitting of this sliding-scale clinic. The New Orleans Women’s
Health Clinic opened its doors to New Orleans women on May 1, 2007.
Update from NOWHC open letter dated December 2007 (excerpt) :
“Since the New Orleans Women’s
Health Clinic opened in May of this year, the demand for our services has
steadily increased month by month. We currently provide a range of gynecological
care and preliminary obstetrical visits including pregnancy testing and
counseling; pap smears; pelvic exams; diagnosis and treatment ....... sexually transmitted infections;
comprehensive sex education and access to safe and effective contraceptives; and
prenatal care and education. The low cost sliding fee scale rates of the Clinic
are possible due to the support we’ve received this year, most of which has come
from individuals like you.”
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