Democratic Women hear about Planned Parenthood

By Gary Lookadoo

Posted: July 29, 2009 at 6:32 a.m.

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BENTONVILLE — Julia Furniss-Roberts, an advanced practical nurse from the Planned Parenthood-Fayetteville Health Center, talked about the services - some of them not widely known - provided by the nonprofit group.

Furniss-Roberts was a guest speaker at the monthly meeting of the Benton County Democratic Women.

Too often, the public's knowledge of Planned Parenthood is not much more extensive than that of an interviewee she once encountered. She quoted the woman as having said, "I know you provide birth control."

In fact, a large number of other services are available at or through Planned Parenthood, Furniss-Roberts said.

A woman (or a family) can indeed get information about birth control and family planning, as well as information about and a test for HIV, screening for cervical cancer and many other useful services, including counseling, Furniss-Roberts said.

In Fayetteville, a medication abortion may be provided, but only as the result of a patient's own choice to have one, andthat only after all options are carefully presented, she said.

"We'll talk about what's out there, what are the options," Furniss-Roberts said. "I don't try to make a decision for anybody."

Even when a pregnancy is terminated, it's terminated only very early in a pregnancy, she said.

"We do it so early we do not have time for the fetus to implant," Furniss-Roberts said.

Furniss-Roberts took questions from the Democrats, who asked about HIV and about how Planned Parenthood is funded.

HIV testing and related support like that which Planned Parenthood provides is needed close to home, former county Justice of the Peace Beverly Williams said. Washington County now has a new case of HIV every 6.5 days, and Benton County has one every seven days, Williams said.

For all the assistance it needs to provide, Arkansas Planned Parenthood is not as well funded as its Oklahoma counterpart, Furniss-Roberts said.

While she hates to ask for money and instead spends most of her time with patients, private donations to Planned Parenthood would be welcome, she said.

News, Pages 5 on 07/29/2009

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