On Saturday, November 23d, members of the Put People First! PA Southwest PA Healthcare Rights committee gathered at the Convention Center in Pittsburgh for the annual Thanksgiving food distribution from 8 am to 3 pm. We talked & listened to people coming there to get food and services, asking how their lives would be different if healthcare was a Human Right, listening to their healthcare stories and taking their contact information so we can follow up with conversations about how we can organize to change the profiteering healthcare system that does not meet our needs. Some of our members also used the services offered and received food.
Several people shared stories about their healthcare struggles, and we will share these on Facebook as Medicaid Mondays. For instance, Amber shared a story about being treated for the wrong thing, which caused many problems. Yvette shared how her insurance doesn’t pay for the lenses for her glasses, only the frames. Rebecca said she should be on disability after an amputation rather than having to work to keep her healthcare. We thank each of these people for sharing their stories as well as those who wrote on our story wall – how their lives would be if we had healthcare as a human right, rather than having it tied to work or being means-tested. We advocate for Medicaid for all! We believe in and fight for the human right to healthcare!
Are you in Southwest Pennsylvania and want to get involved? Contact Barbara at bawhite2012@gmail.com or Nijmie at nijmied@gmail.com!
