UPDATE: The audio to this story was updated after publication with a statement from the BC Ministry of Health.
Options for Sexual Health is currently fearing it may have to close 85% of its clinics across British Columbia if it can’t get increased funding.
The organization says it supports 14,000 people annually at over 50 clinics across the province, offering free birth control, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and care, Pap screenings, pregnancy testing, and pregnancy options counselling.
Currently, there are two clinics located on Vancouver Island, in Nanaimo and Courtney, as well as clinics located in Powell River and Salt Spring Island.
CHLY spoke with Nicole Pasquino, a registered nurse and clinical policy director for Options about what can be done to save some of the clinics and her fears for the majority of them have to close.
