I was honored to serve as president of Mound City Medical Forum, the St. Louis affiliate of the National Medical Association, which represents the interests of African American physicians and patients.
During my tenure, only one Missouri legislator reached out to me to gather the opinion of our organization on upcoming bills being considered for legislation. It infuriated me to see policies coming from our state and federal governments that obviously had little input from the people that do the work on a daily basis.
As we embark upon the final few months of this election cycle, I want to remind readers how pivotal this election could be as it relates to healthcare and families.
…the recommendation that shocked me the most was Project 2025’s call to eliminate Head Start, the program that supports the healthy growth of children from birth to age 5.
I recently spent a Sunday afternoon reading the health policy section of the Project 2025 document. Project 2025 is the political brainchild of a conservative organization, the Heritage Foundation, and it seeks to make a sweeping overhaul of the executive branch of government during the presidential transition.
It is no secret that many conservatives seek ways to control a woman’s right to choose what happens to her body.
Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson
Credit: Jennifer Sarti | St. Louis American
The language in the document speaks to reducing reproductive technologies and reducing policies that support single mothers. It’s ironic that the same people who support limiting a woman’s right to choose termination are the same people who refuse to support social services so that those babies born to those mothers would have health insurance, food, and housing.
Project 2025’s authors are heavy-handed with their support of families and marriages. They go as far to say that “homes with boyfriends are the most dangerous place for a child to be.”
Per the Pew Research Center, Black people are less likely to be married. In 2022, only 32% of Black adults were married. Historically, it is known the tactics that were used to break up Black families, starting with slavery. This has continued with 21st century slavery, the prison system.
So, who knows what diabolical plans they have for those Black fathers trying to keep their families whole in a system that is out to destroy them?
Project 2025 goes on to say that the public health system needs to be restructured.
I don’t necessarily disagree with that, but I do disagree with the authors referring to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as “incompetent and arrogant.” The authors believe that when the CDC makes public health recommendations and policies it is “political.”
They recommend that Congress should define the CDC’s legal authorities. Now, doesn’t that seem political since the makeup of Congress varies with each election cycle? In addition, they want to “severely” limit the CDC’s ability to make policy recommendations.
Other egregious findings in the document include recommendations to reverse the approval of chemical abortion drugs and prohibiting Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid funds.
Planned Parenthood also provides medical care that includes STI treatment and prevention and cancer prevention with pap smears. Therefore, they are a major safety-net provider for certain populations in our community.
Finally, the recommendation that shocked me the most was Project 2025’s call to eliminate Head Start, the program that supports the healthy growth of children from birth to age 5.
Head Start collaborates with parents to improve child outcomes, provides nutritious meals, and strengthens family well-being. Again, it’s ironic that a document that speaks so strongly about family values seeks to dismantle systems that support poor families.
Whether you realize it or not, the health of our nation is on the ballot. Public health systems, federal agencies, and programs for our babies are being threatened. Your vote is essential in this year’s election!
Denise Hooks-Anderson, MD, FAAFP can be reached at yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com
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