Every woman matters.
It's a common-sense phrase lost on state officials in Nebraska, apparently.
On Oct. 13, the Lincoln Journal Star reported that Every Woman Matters - a program extending cancer screenings to low-income women - could be cut if it does not receive the state funds it requires to continue.
It is now solely up to the state legislature to decide if assisting women ages 40-64 with necessary breast and cervical cancer screenings, which they otherwise could not afford, is a worthy endeavor.
The fact that this $1.5 million dollar program is even considered being cut is an absolute outrage.
It is ironic that during Breast Cancer Awareness month, services to detect early cancer and protect women are being challenged.
Every Woman Matters is a program unique to Nebraska, which has garnered national attention for its efficacy in assisting low-income women.
Statistics from Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services highlight its importance.
Since its inception 17 years ago, Every Woman Matters has screened 60,253 women, diagnosed 781 cases of breast cancer and diagnosed 60 cases of cervical cancer.
In addition, according to a study published in the August issue of The Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Undeserved, Every Woman Matters was instrumental in Nebraska having the lowest rate of breast cancer in 2006 since 1997.
Furthermore, in 1990 - before the program's implementation - 45 percent of qualifying women went without mammograms. Again, thanks in large part to Every Woman Matters - that number was lowered to 20 percent in 2002, an incredible feat for early detection and treatment of cancer.
Ceasing funding for Every Woman Matters will be particularly damaging to the Native American population of Nebraska. According to Health Behavior News Service, the program "has been on the reservations since it began, and mobile mammogram units may account for the superior access to mammograms" for Native American women.
With benefits so blatantly obviously to Nebraskans, the question is why. Why is such a noble, life-saving venture on the chopping block?
Because sexphobia is a political convenience.
In other words, it has become politically useful - especially in election years - to come out against services that aid women and only women.
The Nebraska budget needs to be balanced somehow. Those at the top may not feel such a cut is merited personally, but nowadays, it's actually kind of popular to be just a little anti-woman.
The easiest example in the political arena at the moment is one Sen. John McCain. His health care plan for the nation would likely cover Viagra but not birth control. The Associated Press reported in July that when asked point blank by a reporter about the issue, McCain responded, "I certainly do not want to discuss that issue."
In fact, in his senatorial duties, McCain voted twice against requiring health insurance companies to cover contraceptives. When the reporter pressed McCain about these votes, he responded, "I don't know what I voted."
The diligent reporter restated the question, and McCain responded, "I don't know enough about it to give you an informed answer because I don't recall the vote; I've cast thousands of votes in the Senate."
How charming.
McCain's political philosophy (or simple thoughtlessness) with respect to women's issues on the national level is being epitomized in Nebraska on the state level.
The potential cut of the Every Woman Matters program is part of a trend - albeit an old one - of denying basic services to women in the name of everyone being treated "fairly."
The problem with this philosophy, of course, is that there is no potential for fairness in this instance (and many others).
This may come as a shock to some, but men are not at high risk for breast cancer.
If anything, the success of the Every Woman Matters program points to additional state funding for health care services for low income brackets, and this is where a greater equality may be achieved.
A proverbial "Every Man Matters" with funding for some kind of prostate cancer assistance for low income men makes just as must sense: While around 40,000 American women die from breast cancer each year, a comparable 30,000 American men die from prostate cancer each year, according to National Vital Statistics Reports.
Of course, with the proper universal health care system in place (unlike the tax-deductible monster love child of McCain-Palin) perhaps such programs like Every Woman Matters will become unnecessary. There will already be the opportunity for those who cannot independently afford proper screening to access it.
Until that day comes, programs like Every Woman Matters must remain in the state's budget. The cost of missing diagnoses and not aiding those who can be treated far outweighs the lines of accounting in the unicameral legislature.
Continuing this program - even funding it further - will illustrate that the officials of the state of Nebraska know a very common sense phrase: Every woman matters.
Clint Waltman is a senior biology and psychology major. reach him at clintwaltman@dailynebraskan.com
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