KRQE News 13 (Albuquerque, NM) reports that on May 16, 2024, the University of New Mexico (“UNM”) Board of Regents approved the acquisition of land in Las Cruces, New Mexico (Doña Ana County), for the construction of a reproductive health care center to be known as the Center for Reproductive Health at the Doña Ana Clinic. The clinic will perform abortions, but will also provide other services, including complex care for expecting mothers, doula services and vasectomy services.
UNM officials are eyeing property on the north side of Lohman Avenue between Road Runner Parkway and North Sonoma Ranch Boulevard for the clinic, near the existing MountainView Regional Medical Center.
The land acquisition and clinic construction will be funded by a $10 million state appropriation sought by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and approved by the New Mexico State Legislature on March 11, 2023.
The KRQE News 13 article may be read in full HERE.
The UNM Health Sciences Newsroom issued the following press release, on May 17, 2024:
May 17, 2024
UNM Regents Approve Expansion of UNM Health’s Reproductive Care in Southern NM
The University of New Mexico Board of Regents voted 6-1, during its May 16th meeting, to approve the acquisition of land in Doña Ana County to house a full spectrum reproductive health care center. The Reproductive Health care Success Project (“RHSP”) is rooted in the years-long work of a collaboration between four of New Mexico’s leading organizations in reproductive health, including Bold Futures NM, Strong Families NM, UNM Health, and Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.
This community-advised, full spectrum, reproductive health care center will serve the needs of thousands of individuals living in southern New Mexico who have lacked access to basic reproductive health care for decades. The high costs of health care, long distances to providers, lack of public transportation, insufficient or complete lack of insurance coverage, few trusted specialists in a given area, limited knowledge about where to access care, and shame and stigma surrounding reproductive health care are just some of the barriers to accessing care that New Mexicans have identified.
“We are excited and privileged to be in partnership with our communities in the southern part of the state to increase access to needed health care and are dedicated to reducing health inequities across our state,” said UNM School of Medicine OB/GYN Department Chair Eve Espey, MD, MPH.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the New Mexico Legislature appropriated $10 million to kickstart this project. Gov. Lujan Grisham has been a long-time champion for reproductive rights in New Mexico.
“I am pleased to see the advancement of the Reproductive Health Project,” said Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. “When fully operational this full spectrum, reproductive health care center will support and ensure that individuals in the southern part of New Mexico have access to comprehensive reproductive health care.”
With an approval to purchase land, collaborators and partners are currently tending to all priorities to break ground later this year with a goal to reproductive health care center in 2025.
“We have needed real access to community-advised, full spectrum reproductive health care in Doña Ana County for my entire lifetime,” stated Executive Director of Bold Futures NM Charlene Bencomo. “This unique partnership between longtime providers of reproductive health care, reproductive justice organizations, and trusted community leaders in our state have set a high expectation for the innovative and integrated care our communities deserve.”
“We are honored to partner in this important endeavor with public funding going to UNM in support of a new reproductive health center in Las Cruces,” said President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains Adrienne Mansanares. “We take our responsibility to steward these funds seriously, knowing that high levels of transparency and collaboration often result in longer timeframes. We prioritize these values over moving too quickly through this one-of-a-kind community-led endeavor.”
For more information and contact from members of the press:
Chris Ramirez, Communications Director, UNM Health Sciences Center | (505) 313-3429 | cramirez@salud.unm.edu
My brothers and sisters, Governor Lujan Grisham issued State of New Mexico Executive Order No. 2022-123, Expanding Access to Reproductive Health Care Services, on August 31, 2022, directing the New Mexico Department of Finance to set aside $10 million during the 2023 legislative session. On March 11, 2023, the legislature approved House Bill 505, authorizing the funds for construction of a state-sponsored reproductive (read: abortion) health clinic.
With the demise of Roe v. Wade, it’s clear that the location of this clinic – regardless of whatever other ‘merits’ Las Cruces may provide – is to make a political point using New Mexico taxpayers’ money to subsidize abortions for persons traveling to New Mexico from Texas (and elsewhere). Why does the beautiful State of New Mexico continue to promote a culture of death? Lord have mercy on the State of New Mexico and its citizens!
As this writer discussed in a recent FGGAM article HERE, the argument that abortion is health care and reproductive medicine is false on its face, as the undisputed goal of every abortion is not to heal or to protect, but to kill the unborn child. The argument that killing one’s own unborn baby is a “human right” – as many persons have argued – is ridiculous on its face (see Exodus 20:13). The bible, including the Ten Commandments, makes it clear that life is precious to God, who knew every person before they were ever formed in their mothers’ wombs (see Psalm 139:13-16).
Simply put, one does not show compassion for others by agreeing to murder.
Pray for the State of New Mexico and its leaders. We have lost our way and so many follow the lead of the devil – and seemingly elect government officials without concern for the moral decay in our politics! Bearing children is a gift from the Lord (see Psalm 127:3).
Here are the aforementioned scriptures:
Exodus 20:13 (Amplified Bible)
“You shall not commit murder (unjustified, deliberate homicide).”
Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT)
“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank [Y]ou for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in [Y]our book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.”
Psalm 127:3 (NKJV)
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, [t]he fruit of the womb is a reward.”
Praise Jesus forevermore!