Deal reached to keep dozens of sexual health clinics open another year, B.C. group says [Video]

The closure of dozens of sexual and reproductive health clinics across British Columbia has been warded off, at least for now, according to the non-profit group that operates them.

Options for Sexual Health directly operates 30 clinics throughout B.C., providing services including birth control and pregnancy support, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, along with care and sex education.

In December, it warned that it was facing a major funding shortage, and could have been forced to close all but five clinics by April. It said it needed a $1.5 million bump to its annual funding to keep all 30 clinics open or $800,000 top-up funding to keep half of them open.

In an open letter last week, the group said the Ministry of Health had “committed in principle” to keeping all of the clinics open for the coming year and “continue discussions to design a long-term sustainable solution.”