Milwaukee Health Department cancels reproductive health services at Southside Health Center [Video]

ENTIRE CITY SAFE DURING THE RNC. MILWAUKEE’S HEALTH COMMISSIONER DEFENDS HOW HIS DEPARTMENT HANDLED THE CANCELLATION OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SERVICES AT THE SOUTH SIDE HEALTH CLINIC. THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD PROVIDED THE MAMMOGRAMS PAP SMEARS AND BREAST EXAMS AT THE CLINIC ON 23RD AND LAPUM THROUGH A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM FOR WOMEN WITH NO HEALTH INSURANCE. THE HEALTH COMMISSIONER TOLD THE COMMON COUNCIL’S PUBLIC SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTEE IS STOPPED THOSE SERVICES BLAMING STAFFING SHORTAGES, EQUIPMENT FAILURES AND THE LOSS OF A CONTRACT WITH A RADIOLOGIST. WE WERE ACTIVELY WORKING TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES AND WE’RE CONFIDENT THAT WE COULD FIND A PATH FORWARD. UM, UNFORTUNATELY, IN JANUARY WE WE REALIZED THAT THIS THERE WASN’T A PATH FORWARD THAT COULD ACTUALLY HELP US SUSTAIN ON THE ONE DAY A WEEK C