Milwaukee Health Department to temporarily close sexual and reproductive health clinic – WTMJ

Report on the Temporary Closure of a Milwaukee Sexual Health Clinic and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

The Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) has announced the temporary closure of its Sexual and Reproductive Health (STI) Clinic at the Keenan Health Center due to critical staffing shortages. This action presents significant challenges to the city’s progress toward several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning public health, inequality, and strong institutions. While positioned as a strategic pause to ensure long-term sustainability, the closure temporarily suspends vital services for vulnerable populations.

Impact on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The clinic’s closure directly impedes the advancement of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. The suspension of services creates immediate barriers to achieving specific targets:

• Target 3.7: Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Care: The unavailability of same-day STI testing and treatment, especially for uninsured and underinsured patients, represents a significant setback in providing universal access to essential sexual and reproductive health services.
• Target 3.3: End Epidemics of Communicable Diseases: Timely testing and treatment are critical for controlling the spread of sexually transmitted infections. The service disruption could potentially hinder efforts to combat the spread of these communicable diseases within the community.

Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Totoraitis stated the objective is to “bring the STI Clinic back stronger and more sustainable,” indicating a long-term commitment to SDG 3, despite the short-term service gap.

Challenges to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The closure disproportionately affects marginalized communities, directly challenging the principles of SDG 10. The Keenan Health Center clinic is a crucial resource for individuals facing economic and social barriers to healthcare.

• Target 10.2: Promote Universal Social and Economic Inclusion: By removing a key health service for uninsured and underinsured residents, the closure risks exacerbating health disparities and furthering the exclusion of vulnerable populations from the healthcare system.
• Target 10.3: Ensure Equal Opportunity and End Discrimination: Access to healthcare is a fundamental component of equal opportunity. The temporary loss of this accessible clinic undermines efforts to ensure equitable health outcomes for all Milwaukee residents, regardless of their insurance or economic status.

Implications for SDG 8 and SDG 16

The underlying cause of the closure—staffing shortages—highlights broader issues related to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

1. SDG 8 – Decent Work: The active recruitment for public health nurses underscores the need for a robust and sustainable public health workforce. Investing in and retaining healthcare professionals is essential for building a resilient health system that supports community well-being and economic stability.
2. SDG 16 – Strong Institutions: The MHD’s response, including its public acknowledgment of the problem and provision of alternative care options, reflects an effort to maintain institutional accountability and transparency. A functioning public health infrastructure is a cornerstone of a strong and effective public institution.

Mitigation Strategy: Alternative Service Providers

To mitigate the immediate impact on public health and uphold its commitment to residents, the Milwaukee Health Department has directed individuals to alternative clinics for sexual and reproductive health services. These providers are critical in bridging the service gap during the temporary closure.

• Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. (MHSI) – 2555 N. Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Drive | (414) 372-8080
• Progressive Community Health Centers
  • Lisbon Avenue Health Center – 3522 W. Lisbon Ave
  • 12th Street Urgent Care – 945 N. 12th St
• Outreach Community Health Centers – 220 W. Capitol Dr. | (414) 727-6320

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The core issue is the temporary closure of a sexual health clinic, which directly impacts the health and well-being of Milwaukee residents. The article discusses access to “same-day STI testing and treatment” and “sexual and reproductive health care,” which are fundamental components of ensuring healthy lives.

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

  The article explicitly states that the clinic’s closure is “due to a lack of staffing” and “ongoing staffing shortages.” It also mentions that the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) is “actively recruiting for public health nurses.” This connects the issue to the broader challenge of ensuring a sufficient and stable health workforce, which is a component of decent work and sustainable economic growth.

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

  The article highlights that the clinic “often provides services to uninsured and underinsured patients.” The closure of this specific clinic disproportionately affects vulnerable populations who may not have other affordable options for care. This raises issues of equity and access to essential services, directly linking to the goal of reducing inequalities within a community.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.3: “By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.” The clinic’s function of providing “STI testing and treatment” is a direct action towards combating communicable diseases. Its closure represents a setback in achieving this target for the community it serves.
   • Target 3.7: “By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services…” The article’s focus on a “Sexual and Reproductive Health (STI) Clinic” and the statement about being “deeply committed to providing accessible, equitable sexual and reproductive health care” directly align with this target. The temporary unavailability of these services highlights a gap in universal access.
   • Target 3.8: “Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services…” The mention that the clinic serves “uninsured and underinsured patients” connects the issue to universal health coverage. The closure removes a critical access point for essential healthcare for those with the greatest financial barriers.

2. Under SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men…” The “ongoing staffing shortages” and the active recruitment for “public health nurses” point to challenges in maintaining a full and productive health workforce, which is essential for the functioning of public services.

3. Under SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… economic or other status.” By providing services to “uninsured and underinsured patients,” the clinic promotes health inclusion for economically disadvantaged groups. Its closure temporarily reverses this, exacerbating health inequalities based on economic status.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not provide quantitative data, but it implies several qualitative and quantitative indicators that could be used for measurement:

• Indicator for Target 3.7 (Access to sexual/reproductive health): The number of operational public sexual and reproductive health clinics. The article’s main point—the “temporary closure” of the Keenan Health Center’s STI clinic—is a direct measure of this indicator, showing a decrease in availability.
• Indicator for Target 3.8 (Universal health coverage): The proportion of a population (specifically uninsured and underinsured individuals) with access to essential health services. The unavailability of the clinic’s services for this group serves as a negative indicator of progress.
• Indicator for Target 8.5 (Decent work): The vacancy rate for key public health positions. The article’s mention of “a lack of staffing” and “actively recruiting for public health nurses” implies that the number of unfilled nursing positions is a key metric for understanding the problem and measuring its resolution.
• Indicator for Target 3.3 (Combating communicable diseases): The availability of testing and treatment services for STIs. The article states that “access to same-day STI testing and treatment will temporarily be unavailable,” which can be measured by tracking the number of facilities offering such services and their operational status.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wtmj.com