Planned Parenthood Calls on Newly Nominated U.S. Surgeon General To Promote Prevention; Respect and Protect Women’s Health

Leading Women’s Health Organization Urges Dr. James Holsinger to Stand Up for Science Over Ideology, Promote Affordable Birth Control and Other Commonsense Health Care Measures

NEW YORK CITY—Promoting access to affordable birth control, medically accurate sex education and prevention services should top the list of priorities for our country’s new surgeon general, Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards said Friday.

“As the newly nominated Surgeon General, James Holsinger is uniquely positioned to promote commonsense health care measures that prevent unintended pregnancy and keep our teens safe and healthy,” Richards said.  “Currently, more than 17 million women in the U.S. need publicly funded family planning services, and there is not enough funding to meet the need. Nearly 750,000 teenagers in the U.S. will become pregnant this year.

“As the leading advocate and provider of reproductive health care, Planned Parenthood knows that affordable health care services and access to medically accurate health information and education are the keys to reducing teen pregnancy and to building strong, healthy families.”

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care provider and advocate. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate nearly 800 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year. We also work with allies worldwide to ensure that all women and men have the right and the means to meet their sexual and reproductive health care needs.