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Friday, April 4, 2025AfiSectionindianapolisrecorder.comCelebrating the Impact of Public Health Programs and Services Each April, the Marion County Public Health Department joins the American Public Health Association (APHA) and communities nationwide to celebrate National Public Health Week. Celebrating 30 years in 2025, National Public Health Week is April 7-13 and recognizes the contributions of public health and highlights issues that are important to improve the nation%u2019s health. Public health professionals have always played an essential role working tirelessly through programs in population health, environmental health and other professional roles with the mission to improve the lives of residents. According to APHA, %u201cPublic health isn%u2019t just for a single person %u2013 it%u2019s for you, your friends, your family and everyone in your community. Public health aff ects how we all live, work, and play %u2013 it%u2019s an invisible force that protects our safety and well-being.%u201dDirector and Chief Medical Offi cer of the Marion County Public Health Department, Virginia A. Caine, M.D., said talking to residents is vital to understanding the challenges and potential solutions. %u201cIt%u2019s important that we know our neighbors and the issues they face, and work boldly toward solutions that benefi t and are accessible to everyone,%u201d said Dr. Caine. %u201cWe must listen to people who face the biggest health challenges and work to fi x the deeper problems that cause poor health.%u201d Community members are experts in their own experiences and know what solutions will work, Dr. Caine added. Building coalitions is important for removing barriers. When public health advocates unite, we have a stronger voice which leads to lasting solutions. APHA emphasizes that creating a fair and sustainable public health system requires everyone%u2019s participation. This includes public health workers, health care providers, community organizers, faith-based groups, businesses, schools, government and more. Public health includes more than most people realize. Sanitation, restaurant inspections, housing code compliance, immunization, communicable disease control, health education and prenatal care coordination are just a small sample of what the Marion County Public Health Department does. The practice of public health is vital to both the individual and collective well-being. Partnering with non-traditional partners can result in an inclusive and eff ective public health system that benefi ts everyone. The public health workforce can be strengthened by providing more training and support for public health professionals. This investment ensures that workers have the skills and resources to respond to current and future health challenges. The American Public Health Association advocates for the health of all communities, strengthens the public health profession, and drives sciencebased public health policies. With 150 years of leadership, APHA connects a broad member network and infl uences federal health policy. APHA publishes the American Journal of Public Health, The Nation%u2019s Health, and hosts an Annual Meeting showcasing the latest research. Campaigns like %u201cGet Ready%u201d and National Public Health Week refl ect its commitment to creating the healthiest nation. More information is available at www.apha.org. The Marion County Public Health Department is dedicated to help the residents of Marion County achieve and maintain an optimal level of wellness. The health department and its partners are committed to embracing and promoting diversity throughout our programs. MCPHD is a division of the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County (HHC). Other divisions of HHC include Eskenazi Health, Eskenazi Health Centers, Indianapolis EMS and Long-Term Care. Meals on Wheels will be sharing information about their programs and the daily food challenges many families face in Indianapolis.Tuesday, April 8, 2025 %u2022 12-1:30PM4012 N Rural St, Indianapolis, IN 46205Light snacks will be provided.Bring your own lunch.By BENJAMIN THORP WFYIA judge ruled on Monday against the release of abortion records, also known as terminated pregnancy reports or TPRs, kept by the Indiana Department of Health.The court granted the preliminary injunction to two Indianapolis physicians, Caitlin Bernard and Caroline Rouse, who argued that the release of individual terminated pregnancy reports would violate patient privacy.In granting the injunction, Marion County Superior Court Judge James Joven found that the physicians were reasonably likely to succeed at trial, noting that the TPRs had sensitive patient information, including diagnoses and treatments.Attorneys for the state and the anti-abortion group Voices for Life have previously argued that abortion records reported to the state, which would have certain information redacted such as patient names, should be subject to public records requests.Both the Indiana Health Commissioner and Voices for Life have argued that abortion records have been subjected to records requests %u201cfor decades%u201d in Indiana.But Judge Joven noted that since the passage of Indiana%u2019s near-total abortion ban%u00a0in 2023, physicians have been required to include more sensitive information, like a patient%u2019s diagnosis and the reason the physician performed the abortion %u2014 even as significantly fewer abortions are taking place in the state.%u201cThe Court determines that the inclusion of diagnostic and treatment information on TPRs (Terminated Pregnancy Reports) following Indiana%u2019s abortion ban nullifies any argument that the Department%u2019s prior practice of releasing TPRs should carry persuasive weight,%u201d Judge Jarven wrote.The court had previously approved a temporary restraining order, which was set to expire on Monday. The preliminary injunction will remain in place until the court issues its final judgment on the case.Quarterly aggregated data are still made public by the state department of health.In a joint statement, Dr. Bernard and Dr. Rouse said that they were thrilled by the court%u2019s decision and that %u201cprivacy is an essential component of healthcare.%u201dLawyers representing the state and Voices for Life did not immediately respond to WFYI%u2019s request for comment.Contact WFYI%u2019s Health Reporter Benjamin Thorp at%u00a0bthorp@wfyi.org.By HANNA RAUWORTHhannar@indyrecorder.comPlanned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky (PPGNHAIK) launched a Virtual Health Center in Indiana, providing patients nationwide access to reproductive and sexual health services. Through a secure video platform, Hoosiers can connect with trusted providers to discuss birth control, emergency contraception, gender-affirming care, STI testing and treatment, menopause support, pregnancy planning and more.The Virtual Health Center comes at a critical time for Indiana, as rural hospital closures and cutbacks in OB services have created severe gaps in care. According to Power to Decide, 428,540 women of reproductive age in Indiana live in %u201ccontraceptive deserts,%u201d with 102,580 residing in counties that lack any comprehensive contraception providers.%u201cFor many Hoosiers, telehealth isn%u2019t just about convenience %u2014 it%u2019s about survival,%u201d said Rebecca Gibron, CEO of PPGNHAIK. %u201cIndiana faces incredibly pressing sexual health challenges, from high STI rates to maternal health crises. Expanding telehealth options means breaking down barriers and ensuring patients can access compassionate, high-quality care no matter where they live.%u201dNearly 40 counties in Indiana lack inpatient delivery services, leaving many pregnant patients without nearby care. Nearly two out of five infant deaths are linked to inadequate prenatal care.In addition, STI rates have surged. Gonorrhea cases have seen a slight increase over the past five years, Syphilis cases have increased 119% in the same period, with cases among women rising by approximately 430% and Congenital syphilis cases in Indiana have surged by 2,300% from 2018 to 2023.Planned Parenthood operates 11 health centers across Indiana, with the Virtual Health Center now expanding statewide access. To schedule a telehealth visit, Hoosiers can visit plannedparenthood.org/health-center, enter their state and select telehealth.Planned Parenthood in Indiana is experiencing funding cuts under the Trump administration, but the organization said it will continue to offer services and that patients can still book appointments without interruption.Contact Health & Environmental Reporter Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.Judge grants injunction blocking Indiana from releasing abortion recordsPatients in Indiana can now access Planned Parenthood care via their new online system. (Photo/Planned Parenthood)Planned Parenthood launches virtual health center in Indiana