Story by Andrew Garner of The Atmore Advance

In a matter of months, the Sav-A-Life Women’s Resource Center of Escambia County will be offering its Ultrasound Program to women free of charge.

SAL Women’s Resource Center Executive Director Linda Smith said the program has been in the works for years.

“This has been something I’ve been praying about for years,” Smith, who has been with SAL since 1989, said. “I started with the organization, and have been a part of all that God has been doing through the years.

“It’s just been in my heart and prayers to offer this to our clients through the years,” she said.

Smith said the ultrasound program’s origin lies in recent research that said when women see their unborn child on the ultrasound screen, they’re between 80-90 percent likely to chose life for their baby.

“That’s our focus and purpose for wanting to implement this program,” she said. “(The ultrasound machine) was quite expensive.”

Smith said funds that were raised by Grace Fellowship Church of Atmore will go to pay the majority of the machine.

“We have had a few other donations toward it,” she said. “The Knights of Columbus (of Bay Minette) are raising funds for us.”

Smith said in addition to purchasing an ultrasound machine, the center is looking to upgrade its exam table.

Smith said Dr. Jon Yoder will be the center’s medical director to oversee the program, and Melissa Wall Boatwright will serve as the ultrasound technician.

In addition, Anna Kemp, who has served in the Brewton Women’s Resource Center for more than two years and works at the center in Atmore, will serve as the nurse manager.

Smith said the ultrasound program will be up and running within a few months.

The Women’s Resource Center offers services to all women, including pregnancy tests, information on pregnancy and other topics, Smith said.

In addition, Smith said the center makes sure women are informed on abortions.

“Of course, we don’t perform or refer women to get abortions,” she said. “We know that women that are even considering abortion or are abortion minded, even those that have made an abortion decision, or are vulnerable; we offer the information to help them make an informed decision. Of course, with the ultrasound program, we would hope they choose life with the child.”

Smith said the center isn’t an abortion facility.

“We just give the facts and usually that’s enough to help them make a decision they won’t regret,” she said.

Smith said she hopes the ultrasound program benefits a lot of women.

“We want it to be an excellent program,” Smith said. “We want to be sure we’re covering all of our bases and it’s something that will benefit the community.”

The Women’s Resource Center in Atmore is right across the street from Frontier Communications.