Houston government leaves women waiting for promised menopause clinic

HALIFAX –It’s been a year since Premier Houston committed to opening a menopause centre to provide care for the 350,000 Nova Scotians who are approaching or managing menopause. Today, Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender is demanding accountability for Nova Scotians who were promised a Menopause Centre of Excellence by the Houston government.

“Women and gender-diverse Nova Scotians deserve better than broken promises,” said Chender. “For decades, women’s health has been treated as an afterthought – not a priority. This government made big campaign promises to support women’s health care but, a year later, Nova Scotians are still waiting.

Since this government got elected– women have seen precious little progress. The average wait time for routine women’s care at the IWK is three years and there is a 15,000+ person waitlist. Just last week we heard about the end of a free breastfeeding support service, a lifeline to women in Halifax. This government needs to show up for women and take immediate action to improve women’s health care.”

A recently released report from the IWK Foundation found that 70 per cent of women in Atlantic Canada aren’t getting their health care needs met. More than one in five said they are currently in a health crisis and need more support. Earlier this week, The Black Women’s Institute for Health also released a report, Voices Unheard, revealing the systemic inequities in health care for black women, girls and gender-diverse people that must be addressed by all levels of government.

Nova Scotia has the second lowest percentage of women being screened for cervical cancer and breast cancer, and Nova Scotia’s mortality rate for these cancers is above the national level. Experts agree that improved screening can lead to earlier detection and better outcomes

“It’s unacceptable to see the needs of half of the population are being ignored,” said NDP Critic for the Status of Women, Susan Leblanc. “Women have been speaking up, but they’re not seeing action by the Houston government. A better health care system is possible – one where everyone’s needs are taken seriously and handled quickly. Prioritizing women’s healthcare starts with moving forward with the menopause clinic, expanding midwifery services and endometriosis care, expanding cancer screenings, and providing the free birth control already available in B.C, Manitoba,Yukon, and P.E.I. ”

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