For a the most liberal part of a state that’s shown its pro-abort stance over and over, this move is a shock. Philly, after all, was the where Kermit Gosnell's house of abortion horrors was allowed to operate for decades.
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health noticed high infant mortality rates during a child’s first year of life in numerous cities across the nation, especially in poorer areas. As a result the city plans to launch a program that provides cash incentives to expectant mothers for 18 months with the hopes that they’ll use the payment to help provide for themselves and their child(ren).
According to a report from the New York Post, Philly had a 6.1 infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) in 2017 which is higher than the 5.8 national rate. In addition, “A 2021 city report found non-Hispanic black women accounted for 58% of pregnancy-related deaths from 2013 to 2018, even though they were only responsible for 43% of births in Philadelphia during that period,” New York Post added.
The funding aims to help these people. Essentially women would receive payments for 18 total months, nine when pregnant and throughout the child’s first year of life outside the womb.
Women must have an annual income of less than $100,000 and the initiative plans to target people who live “in the Cobbs Creek, Strawberry Mansion, and Nicetown-Tioga neighborhoods, as their rates of low birth weights are the highest in the city.” Historically these neighborhoods have an average income of less than $30,000 annually which may result in the homes being ill equipped to properly care and tend to the financial needs of children, especially in their first year of life.
In addition to the financial assistance, Philly promised “voluntary support” for mothers in the form of “home visits, lactation support, doulas, and financial counseling.”
Dr. Cheryl Bettigole relayed the intention behind the initiative in a statement: “We know that being able to better support pregnant people and new parents helps keep babies alive. As the poorest big city in the country, this is not always easy, especially in areas of the city that are being crushed by generational poverty and systemic racism.”
"Systemic racism?" Whatever.
In terms of where the money will come from, it’s reported that the project will be funded through fundraising and no taxpayer money will be used but considering taxpayer money in Pennsylvania feeds the abortion industry, I wouldn’t mind if those resources were allocated to helping women and children instead.
Finally, a city is helping save life … now lets just hope they help and encourage that for the rest of the state and the nation at large who have an overwhelmingly anti-life attitude.
