THUNDER BAY — A clinic that specialized in sexual health services has closed its doors permanently.
The announcement was made on its website and through social media by the operators of the Umbrella Medical Clinic, located in the Thunder Bay Medical Centre at 63 Algoma St. N.
"Umbrella Medical Clinic is closed permanently, effective immediately," it stated, but no explanation for the closure has been made public.
In late January, the clinic announced it was closing until further notice, and officials said they were uncertain if it would reopen.
UMC was founded in 2018 by the late Dr. Annabella Zawada to fill a gap in the community by providing sexual health services and gender-affirming care for people of all genders and orientations.
On its website, the clinic advises clients who have received gender-affirming care to monitor email regarding next steps, and to watch for information about obtaining their medical records.
"We would like to thank the community for their support," the message concludes.
Kara Babcock, a client of the clinic, said she doesn't have a family doctor, so her options for getting prescription renewals are very limited.
"You can't really get those kinds of prescriptions at a walk-in clinic. Many practices, even if you have a family doctor, don't feel comfortable handling this kind of care. But what many people don't realize is that this care is very necessary. It's not an optional kind of care."
Babcock said UMC has provided a list of possible alternative care providers, such as Oak Medical Arts.
"That's amazing, but that's a fee-for-service facility. So some people might not be able to afford that service or might not feel comfortable paying for a service that ultimately should be a part of our health-care system."
At Umbrella, she said, services were covered by OHIP.
