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Planned Parenthood

November 1, 2015
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Healthcare is one of those things that usually gets put last on my to-do-list; growing up in Boyle Heights, I realized that healthcare was also being put last on many of my neighbors' lists; most of them uninsured with limited access to healthcare. I believe Health is a Human Right and no one, from any community, should struggle to get medical care because of cost, or lack of health insurance.

As Community Engagement & Marketing Specialist at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles (PPLA), an organization that provides affordable access to a comprehensive range of quality reproductive healthcare through our health centers, education and advocacy, I provide awareness about the importance of preventative and reproductive healthcare alongside educators and peer advocates in Roosevelt and Mendez High School. Planned Parenthood's Education department trains parents and students as peer advocates to become a resource to their schools on topics like STDs and pregnancy prevention. Planned Parenthood Los Angeles even collaborated with Roosevelt High School in Boyle Heights to provide reproductive healthcare on-campus, including contraceptives, STD testing, pregnancy tests, communication on healthy relationships, self-love and abstinence. In our health centers we offer services like life-saving cancer screenings, health exams, abortion, emergency contraception, but most importantly on access to knowledge in our communities and schools. Planned Parenthood believes that all people should have access to affordable healthcare, regardless of their immigration standing. Our top priority is to ensure that all individuals have access to the full range of preventative and reproductive healthcare because we all benefit, both as organizations and community residents, when more people have access to healthcare.

Planned Parenthood currently works in collaboration with Building Healthy Communities - Health Happens with Prevention workgroup, where our promotoras and peer advocates conduct outreach on the enrollment events of My Health LA in the community of Boyle Heights. Promotoras of PPLA provide education on My Health LA, a county-wide initiative that provides health services to undocumented individuals, and ensure that individuals are not only being educated on the services provided at PPLA but the resources available to them in getting quality healthcare.. PPLA's Public Affairs department advocates for legislation that will ensure the quality of healthcare and support #health4all. 
I go back to my community and make sure that healthcare is put on the top of everyone's to-do-list and educate my neighbors on programs like My Health LA. I, alongside with Planned Parenthood, will continue to advocate for our human right to quality healthcare so that everyone, regardless of where they were born,, can access healthcare no matter what! Because it's the right thing to do.

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