Welcome to SAPHA's monthly newsletter!
The South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA) condemns the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the landmark ruling of Roe v. Wade. We join the outrage and sadness that has resonated across the country and around the world as a fundamental right has been stripped from millions of people.
Access to safe abortions is essential to public health.
There are profound societal risks when access to healthcare such as safe abortion is limited or removed. It decreases opportunities for upward education and economic mobility, and increases the likelihood of death, due to risks including domestic violence. Forced pregnancies will only further exacerbate health inequities for people of color, where additional barriers including language, immigration status, and cultural stigmas already make it difficult to access necessary healthcare.Additionally, restricting access to safe abortions does not lower the rates of abortions happening in the country; it only creates unsafe conditons and leads to worse public health outcomes. We have seen the horrific impact that policing these decisions can have among marginalized communities, and we know patients across the country are already experiencing the repercussions of last week’s verdict.
As a public health organization, SAPHA affirms the right of all people to choose when it comes to their personal reproductive decisions. We stand with our colleagues and communities to uphold access to healthcare and reproductive justice for all.
In Solidarity,
The SAPHA Board of Directors
SAPHA is the leading voice on public health issues impacting South Asians in the United States. Since its inception in 1999, SAPHA has dedicated itself to promoting health equity and well-being of our broad and diverse South Asian American communities through partnerships, research, education, communication, and advocacy. Representing the South Asian diaspora, SAPHA aims to address the unique challenges facing South Asians and advance opportunities for people to reach their utmost potential health in the communities where they live, work, and play.
