The Top 10 Women's Health Achievements in Obama's First 100 Days

It seems like not that long ago we were chronicling the dismal first 100 days of the Bush administration, predicting an unpleasant future for women's health and rights ... little did we know just how bad it could get.

So imagine the champagne corks popping today, as we mark the first 100 days with President Obama -- there is no way to overstate the revolutionary change that is taking place. Regardless of your passion -- the environment, civil rights, living wage, or, like those of us at Planned Parenthood, the health and well being of women and young people -- this administration is a tonic for whatever ails you.

As progressives, we can nearly always find something to complain about, but now more than ever, it's time to celebrate this new direction and saddle up for the work ahead. For we've also seen in these first three months that there are plenty of agin'ers (in Texas, these are folks who are against everything) who aren't embracing the change this country so desperately needs and wants. But before we get back to work, let's just take a quick look at the Top Ten great things President Obama has done for American women and families, Planned Parenthood-style!

Planned Parenthood's Top Ten List for the First 100 Days:

10. Repealed the global gag rule: With the stroke of a pen, President Obama overturned the global gag rule and once again allowed millions of women around the world to access critical reproductive health care services.

9. Moved to overturn the HHS midnight regulation: The administration took immediate action to rescind this rule, which jeopardizes women's health by denying them access to complete and accurate health care and information.

8. Supporting teens' health over ideology: The president, in his budget, called for evidence-based, medically accurate sex education, in contrast to the failed abstinence-only policies .

7. Expanding access to family planning: In the president's budget, he included a commonsense Medicaid waiver to expand family planning under Medicaid, increasing acces for more women in need.

6. Restored affordable birth control: The president signed legislation to restore access to affordable birth control for millions of college students and low-income women, especially important in these tough economic times.

5. Formed the White House Council on Women and Girls: President Obama established this council to focus on a wide range of issues facing American women and their families, including the high rate of unintended pregnancies and the alarming number of sexually transmitted infections.

4. Nominated strong women's champions to key cabinet posts: The president nominated Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who understands that improving the status of women is not simply a moral imperative; it is necessary to building democracies around the globe. He also nominated HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, a longtime champion of women's health and a strong advocate for health care reform.

3. Expanding access to Plan B: Under the Obama administration, the FDA now supports over-the-counter sales of Plan B (emergency contraception) to women 17 years and older.

2. Focusing on AIDS outreach: President Obama has made a strong commitment to developing a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy to reduce the number of HIV infections, increase access to care, and reduce HIV-related health disparities to address the growing HIV/AIDS crisis among women and girls in the United States.

1. Committed to health care reform: President Obama has laid down the law that we'll have health care reform this year -- making access to quality, affordable health care one of his key priorities. Hallelujah -- not a moment too soon!

So -- we are off to an incredible start. Though as everyone involved in improving the long-term health of our nation knows, it's not just about the last 100 days -- it's about the 100 after that, and the 100 after that. It's about making the health of women and young people a priority every day, and in every policy decision. This is the moment we've all been waiting for, and we can't let the president down. At Planned Parenthood, we are suited up and on the field, ready to play -- it's going to be a great season. An A for the first 100 days.

Comments

[octobermax]

Thanks for pointing out that fighting AIDS is a really important health issue!

Obama's platform on AIDS was impressive, and he's definitely taken good steps forward in his first 100 days -- for more specifics check out ACT UP Philadelphia's blog: http://actupphilly.blogspot.com

[MrJones1776]

What does murdering babies have to do with womens health? Why aren't we referring to abortion as the violent, gruesome act of murder that it really is? Why are we masking the death, viscera and slaughter with the false label of "womens health" and "reproductive freedom"?

Abortion, as a civil rights issue, is not about the preserving a woman's right to make personal decisions. This is not about womens suffrage, sexual equality or reproductive freedom. Abortion is the greatest violation of civil rights we have ever known, because its victim never has the chance to peacefully protest in the streets, to write its congressman, to pass out leaflets or to post blogs in defense of its human rights and dignity. The victim is silent and his/her most fundamental right is ripped away in the very life-giving womb where one is meant to enjoy the greatest safety and sustenance.

One, with an elementary understanding of moral law, would have to agree that a person has a right to make decisions only regarding their own body, and not the body of someone else. When one violates the sanctity of another person's body against his/her will, we call it either assault or murder. Moral law, again, clearly tells us that murder is wrong (except when defending one's self against an assailant). When one reaches the logical conclusion that abortion is INFANTICIDE, then the next step is to concede that abortion, without exceptions, is always morally wrong.

[chickenNgravy]

Nice post, I agree with you.

I have four kids. If I only had three because one was aborted I think I would feel a black hole where my heart should be, every day, the rest of my life.

What "pro-choice" advocates will never admit is that 90% of abortions are simply a convenience issue. Not rape, not incest, not failed contraception.

Or that the person having the abortion already had a choice. The choice was, do I sleep with this person?

[gayleg]

So. . .

Did no one notice the AP article above.

The Freedom of choice is not his highest priority. In other words: he's going to let it rot on the vine.

[EricWI]

This list is definitely good news. Kudos to all involved especially those who kept the pushing these important issues during the last eight years when it was difficult to make progress.

Now, it would be nice to see an equally impressive top 10 men's health achievements over the next 100 days. Given that men live five to six years less on average than women, men on average access health care close to half as much as women, men lack a birth control options with the ease and effectiveness of the pill, men experience 93% of workplace deaths, and far less federal funding goes to male specific medical issues than to women's issues we desperately need to focus on men's health issues. Now.

Spread the word.

[wilinot]

You know - I just never thought of any of that! And you are right, and your health issues certainly effect women too. Birth control for men! Or a longer life so you wouldn't leave someone a widow. But you know, I'm thinking just on the heart attack issue, more attention has (in the past) been given to men. We are now finding out women have different symtoms.
But yes, you are right and I think a lot of people just never looked at it your way.

[EricWI]

Thanks for the positive response. I hope we can get the word out that we need a public health emphasis on men's health too. And yes it would benefit both men and women just as emphasizing women's health benefits both women and men. Good point.

[justthefacts17]

Men? Who cares?

[chickenNgravy]

Instead, let's save some money. Just post these recommendations to 10,000 of your man friends.

1. Eat Healthy, meat OK in moderation. (also chew your food well).
2. Exercise frequently.
3. Drink in moderation and never while driving.
4. Don't use drugs that involve a needle or that go in your nose.
5, Treat your wife/girlfriend with respect and the same to your kids.
6. Don't stick your "man parts" in anyone that you don't know well.
7. Wear your seatbelt.
8 Get a colonoscopy at age 50 and a PSA at the same time.

I'm a Moderate in a Conservative State. I think the above pretty much covers it for "Men's Health" and I'm pretty sure I don't need anyone to teach me a class on it or educate me any further.

[nocoward]

oh oh lol

[luckybear]

Cecile Richards seems overly happy. I'm glad Obama has switched positions but it isn't that revolutionary. Any Democrat would have done essentially the same thing. Now we move on to real health care for everyone (just saying that her list was rather easy to do). This will be difficult and expensive. Will Americans continue to support universal health care when taxes have to go up? Perhaps. I support universal health care not because it will be perfect but because the system we have just doesn't work. Politically it will be very difficult. The hard work starts now.

[Alethea]

Taxes might go up because of universal health care, but on the other hand, our health related expenses will go WAY down. I used to work in health insurance, so I know how the cycle spirals out of control. Something has to give. And if the government steps in and offers good coverage with a low premium, private insurance costs and thus the overall health care costs would plummet. Otherwise, private companies couldn't compete.

Ultimately, it sure would be nice for people to not go bankrupt if someone in the family got really sick.

[jcwtts1]

taxes won't go up for you. Unless you make over 250,000 a year.

[drricklippin]

Among health achievements necessary for women is less stress at the workplace.

Here is my speech on that subject-see http://www.ricklippin.com/papers8.htm

Dr. Rick Lippin
Southampton,Pa

[chickenNgravy]

Less stress at the workplace?

I worked in an office once with 30+ female employees. The only stress was the daily drama with that many women under one roof. Our poor business manager couldn't concentrate adequately on the business and its finances because 50% of his time was spent dealing with daily "issues" and "crisis" all related to the complex social interactions in the Hive.

[sunny123]

Great post! A wonderful time for a President who is not afraid of women. A strong man who expects a strong woman to be a partner not baggage.

It seems like we have waited forever for this. Why has it taken us so long to receive equal treatment? Why did we backslide? Abortion is a personal choice, not a legislative question. Do men have to get permission from their wives for vasectomies? Why not? What we do in the privacy of our homes and our bedrooms is no one elses business.

It is about time! Sixty-four and grinning from ear to ear!

[Boadicea]

Thank God we have a president who supports a woman's right to have control of her own body, her own health and her own life.

[hoosier96]

Why don't you just say in one sentence what you're really happy about. "Yea, we have a pro-abortion president!"

[prd mom to 4]

Really, you think that's what she meant? Please explain because over half of what she was talking about was focused on prevention... a.k.a. preventing the pregnancies BEFORE they happen so there's no need for an abortion.

[letsbepeaceful]

Thank you - my thoughts exactly! Let's prevent the accidental pregnancies so we have less need for abortion

[darcy]

No one is pro-abortion, hoosier96. Progressives are pro-choice; the other side is anti-choice.

[Alethea]

Or more to the point, one side is against criminalizing women because of their biology, and the other apparently thinks that's ok.

If you make abortion illegal, then what if a woman has a miscarriage? Are they going to be investigated and/or sent to jail for wrongdoing? What if the woman didn’t take all their vitamin B when they were supposed to? Is THAT considered child neglect which can be prosecuted? What about the pill?

For a party that (supposedly) touts individual freedom, they sure don’t seem to like it when women have it.

They can keep their guns if I can keep the freedom over my own body.

[wilinot]

yes, you are exactly right. I'm not pro-abortion. But I could never vote to take away another poor womans right to choose it. And no, I don't think Obama is pro abortion either. His idea is to make them less needed. And I agree totally.

[justthefacts17]

OK. Let's call it pro- choice abortion and anti pro- abortion. Happy?

[intelliwoman]

We are off to a crappy start, and as far as I am concerned the entire health care issue is null as to any progress until all Americans have access to basic health care. It should be the most important thing, unfortunately, I, who work 2 jobs, and have always worked will probavly die before it happens, because I am 50 years old and have no access to any ki9nd of health insurance because I have Type II diabbetes. Once my employer dropped our group coverage, I was done.

LETS WORRY ABOUT EVERYONE and get off our soapbox about family planning, abortion and sex education.

[hoosier96]

So get another job with better benefits. Look after yourself and stop expecting others to look after you. For crying out loud, UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE IS NOT A RIGHT!

[NowWhatFolks]

Because it's that easy, right? While already working two jobs, go out and find yourself a new, better job with health care, since you are in your current two jobs by choice, obviously, not out of necessity. It's not a problem that the current economy makes KEEPING jobs for even qualified people difficult. You should be able to just suck it up and get all of that handled by yourself. better yet, just start a business and buy your own health care. It's that simple. Really.

For what it's worth, in nearly every other industrialized nation, universal health care IS a right. You see, they feel an obligation to take care of each other. It's a terrible view to take, I know. All that misplaced compassion...

[letsbepeaceful]

It's just not that easy! What would you do if you were already working two jobs, one of which had just dropped your health care. Why isn't it a right? Most European countries offer it, as does Canada.

Did you ever consider that if corporations did not have to worry about paying for or offering, health care, wages might be higher? Or manufacturing jobs might not go overseas because the companies' overhead is less?

[darcy]

Well, let's make it a right! We made education a right, so what's the problem?

[prd mom to 4]

Didn't you read #1?

[Lilybart]

BRAVO!!

President Obama has no problem with strong women.