New and Improved Wicker Park Health Center Unveiled

Over the past year, our Wicker Park health center gave out 21,062 condoms, performed 3,743 STI screenings, dispensed 20,929 orders of birth control and handled 15,857 visits from 6,805 patients.

And that was just the old heath center.

Yesterday marked the highly anticipated unveiling of our newly expanded and renovated Wicker Park health center, featuring a bigger space and an updated look to increase both operating efficiency for our staff and comfort for our patients.  The new design will allow us to take on more patients and increase the number of patients we can see at a time. Our patient base in Wicker Park has already been increasing by 10% annually and we're thrilled we now have the space to accommodate the growing need in the community.

This access has never been more needed or more urgent, either.  Manny Flores, the former 1st Ward Alderman and current PPIL board member who attended last night's opening, said:

"Without Planned Parenthood's services, the community is more vulnerable to unintended pregnancy, STDs and other serious health problems.  Thanks to Planned Parenthood's new health center more women, men and teens in the community have a place to turn to for preventive health care services."

Cook County has the highest rate of gonorrhea infections in the country and the second highest for syphilis and chlamydia, and has a teen pregnancy rate far above the national average.  In the West Town and Humboldt Park neighborhoods of Chicago, in particular, teen mothers account for 25-28% of all new births.  

Services offered at the Wicker Park center include annual exams, birth control, emergency contraception, STI testing and treatment, HIV testing and counseling, HPV and Hepatitis A and B vaccination, and pregnancy testing and options counseling. To make an appointment, visit www.ppil.org or call 800-230-PLAN.

Stop by, and let us know what you think!

 

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