BANGOR — In the wake of multiple healthcare and hospital closures and funding issues with MaineCare, people gathered in Pierce Park on Saturday to rally in support of healthcare.
“Losing nurses and losing people that care about providing healthcare to us is really scary,” stated rally organizer Isabella Cottle.
“It’s disastrous….healthcare is probably one of the most important things besides food and water and shelter. I think that Maine really should be providing it for it’s citizens, and I know MaineCare is probably one of the best healthcare systems in the United States and I think expanding that to everybody is a must,” shared organizer Landen Michaud.
With several local public-health-related organizations in attendance, providers say healthcare access is a growing issue.
“Focusing on healthcare access, particularly healthcare access for marginalized people and healthcare that has been stigmatized. At Mabel Wadsworth Center those are things that we are very familiar with…our services include abortion care, prenatal care, STI testing and treatment, contraceptives, gender affirming hormone therapy and we even do primary care and vasectomies now,” explained Aspen Ruhlin, Community Engagement Organizer for Mabel Wadsworth Center.
“We work primarily with homeless folks, we’re a syringe service program so we work with drug users. There are so many hoops and barriers that folks have to face in interacting with our healthcare system,” said Luke Sekera-Flanders, Public Health Community Organizer at Needlepoint Sanctuary.
Attendees say they hope to see more access to care across the state, country and nation.
“Healthcare is so important and the fact that it’s not a guarantee for everyone is, I think, ridiculous. I think we’re all here today to support healthcare for everyone, especially marginalized communities,” said attendee Tamra Benson.
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