President Donald Trump agreed to continue funding Planned Parenthood provided it stops providing abortions. Proponents of Planned Parenthood, however, rejected the offer and said the money provided by the government is used to pay for the various health services offered by the organization.
Planned Parenthood executive vice president Dawn Laguens turned down the deal and said it would mean abandoning its patients and its values. She said the provision of critical health care service for millions of women in America is not negotiable.
Presidential daughter Ivanka Trump earlier urged the president to be careful with the Planned Parenthood issue, according to New York Times. Ivanka, who is an informal adviser to the president, tried to provide a clear focus on the new administration's stand on women's issues.
"As I said throughout the campaign, I am pro-life and I am deeply committed to investing in women's health and plan to significantly increase federal funding in support of non-abortion services such as cancer screenings," Trump said. "Polling shows the majority of Americans oppose public funding for abortion, even those who identify as pro-choice. There is an opportunity for organizations to continue the important work they do in support of women's health, while not providing abortion services."
White House officials even suggested a possible increase in federal funding for Planned Parenthood if it stops providing abortion services. Trump, however, stressed even during the campaign period that he would defund the program because he is pro-life.
Planned Parenthood provides reproductive and other health services to men, women and young people, especially in the most neglected areas in the world, as per Planned Parenthood. It works with medical service providers and local advocates to provide its beneficiaries with reproductive health education, contraceptives and access to safe abortion.
The organization continuously raised awareness about pregnancy and miscarriages, according to Scary Mommy. It launched a Pregnancy Program to help women deal with miscarriages through counseling and medical management.
