In rural Alabama, the closures are already having a significant impact. Women lack easy access to quality labor and delivery services, necessitating long distances to deliver their babies. Those who experience medical emergencies often struggle to find doctors and nurses or necessary diagnostic services. Even routine check-ups are difficult to come by.
In fact, for Black Alabamians, these issues date back to segregation. In 1965, in Selma, Ala., two prominent segregated hospitals existed, one admitting no Black patients, and the other offering only 13 beds for Negroes. This situation led to a congressional investigation, highlighting healthcare access as a critical civil rights issue.
The history of Good Samaritan Hospital shows the importance of rural medical facilities. This institution symbolizes hope and the ongoing struggle against healthcare disparities in rural America.
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