Controversy over women's contraception. It has become a hot topic this election year. As November draws closer one area organization is looking back on several decades in women's health and looking ahead to how the birth control debate will be resolved.
Five thousand women a year. That's how many patients Edgerton Women's Health Center in Davenport sees for GYN and birth control. Most of the women have limited insurance or limited income. This week the center is celebrating 40 years of that kind of care.
President and CEO Tom Fedje says that, in the last four decades, the center has seen quite an evolution when it comes to women's health. Especially recently with the contraceptive debate returning to the spotlight. "It looks like déjà vu. We're back having to fight for women to get access to birth control in 2012 like we were trying to do in 1970," said Fedje.
He adds that he's surprised by how much it has become part of this election season. Earlier this year the issue at hand was President Obama's policy requiring employees of religion-affiliated institutions have access to birth control coverage. "There's really no reason those details can't be worked out to satisfy everybody," said Fedje.
But a back and forth over women's rights versus attack on religious freedoms continues and it's a hot topic on both the campaign trail and in the community. "That's their religion. However they feel about it that's how they should be," said Sharon Kraft of Davenport.
"I think it'd be great if government could step in and help out for those who can't afford it," said Harold Akins also of Davenport.
Fedje thinks it's still going to be one of the big political issues for the fall. "Revolves around American women, how they will vote, how their partners will vote," added Fedje. But for now he focuses on Edgerton and what he hopes will be another 40 years of service to the area.
Since 1972 Edgerton Women's Health Center has also helped more than 25,000 women with pregnancy care.
