Lasker award : the action of family planning rewarded

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood (Erik Pendzich/Shutterst/SIPA)

Published the 07.09.2017 at 11: 33

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Family planning is a century old. In the United States, it has blown its hundred candles last year. To celebrate its 101-year it is now the prestigious Lasker prize, which is awarded to this institution. Often described as an antechamber of the Nobel prize, this distinction welcomes basic research… but also the progress made in public health.

After having devoted Doctors Without Borders, the foundation Lasker highlights the major role played by Planned Parenthood in the health of Americans and other populations. Because, not content to act on the floor of the United States, the institution is also present in 12 other countries in Latin America and Africa. An action centenary, which is now awarded the Lasker prize-Bloomberg for the public good.

Patients in need

Founded in 1916 by Margaret Sanger, Planned Parenthood is sharing a long common history with the couple, Albert and Mary Lasker. In 1937 already, the wife of the businessman – it-activist in the health community – making a donation to support the activity of the sexual health clinics. A few years later, the advertising offers the current name of the institution.

Since these first steps, family planning, american has come a long way. It is now a 650 clinics that provide care to more than two million citizens. Contraception, pregnancy monitoring, screening,… The field of action is wide. And necessary.

“We are probably the only provider of care for millions of our patients,” says Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, in a video filmed for the occasion. In fact, three-quarters of the patientèle clinics are composed of households that were low income.