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 Dear
Supervisor Antonovich,
We write to you as
Armenian youth extremely concerned with your proposed plan to
privatize the Glendale Health Center (GHC).
As a primary care
facility which serves over 3,500 patients—most of whom are
uninsured seniors and first-generation immigrants—GHC provides
critical medical care to those in our community who need it the
most. The majority of the clinic’s patients are of Armenian
descent and rely heavily on the culturally competent care
offered by the diverse, multi-lingual staff. Many of these
patients travel from far distances to come to the center so they
can be treated in an environment where they are comfortable and
understood.
Privatization poses the
risk of severing these long-established relationships patients
have developed with the center’s doctors, nurses and
caretakers. Handing over GHC to a private agency will likely
disrupt the important culturally appropriate care patients so
desperately rely upon.
The proposed
privatization also threatens to erect excessive barriers to
access, accountability and efficiency. A private agency will not
be able to service the over 80% of uninsured patients which
frequent the center. Higher costs, restriction to access, and
compounded obstacles to receiving care are bound to result
should the center be privatized.
As an organization
dedicated to social justice and public service, we find the
proposal to privatize Glendale Health Center detrimental to the
needs of our community. At a time when people need quality and
affordable healthcare more than ever, cutting off such important
services is something we firmly stand against.
We ask you to
reconsider the proposal to privatize the Glendale Health Center
and protect the health services for those in our community who
need it the most.
Sincerely,
Armenian Youth
Federation
Western Region
Central Executive
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