Five on Friday: Puerto Rico Waits for Dialysis

Breast Cancer Awareness Month ribbons the nation with pink, to remind us how breast cancer affects so many of our friends and family, and to push us to support worthy organizations working to further research, prevention efforts, and provide preventative services. Among those that may do the most in supporting women’s health among the poorest communities in the US, including through the provision of breast exams, is Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood provided 336,614 breast exams in 2016 alone. What’s more, throughout the country, individual Planned Parenthood clinics provide services to help low-income patients access grants and low-fee follow-up services like mammograms, including through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. We welcome Planned Parenthood’s new president, Dr. Leana Wen, and look forward to see how she applies the lessons she has learned as Baltimore’s health commissioner to better serve low-income women who continue to encounter numerous barriers to basic women’s health services in communities around the US.  As clinicians, we see many small lights that brighten the path toward health justice for the mobile poor, in spite of the upsetting and frustrating headlines that often take most of the attention. What has given you perspective and hope in recent weeks? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter. Here is our weekly dose of good reads to keep us informed, recommended by MCN staff.

Amy, Director of Environmental and Occupational Health, shared “two good stories (from HuffPost and Wisconsin State Farmer) about a farmer and an organization we work with in Wisconsin.”

Amy also shared a disaster relief fund for farmworkers affected by Hurricane Michael by the Florida People's Advocacy Center.

Jillian, Director of Education and Communication, forwarded on the announcement of the Safety Net Value Champions Fellowship Program from Take Action on Overuse. Application deadline is December 3rd.

Claire, Writer and Editor, shared a new podcast series focused on disaster response and recovery. This episode, centered around people without authorization affected by last year’s California fires, highlights the work of Undocufund.

Marysel, Puerto Rico Program Manager, shared “In Puerto Rico, Patients Are Still Waiting For A Dialysis Clinic That May Never Come.”

Have a safe and healthy weekend.

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