Prevent and Detect Cervical Cancer in Guatemala

In May of this year, we visited El Mora, a community of the department of Escuintla in Guatemala where we had first made contact in March of this year and where a previous educational talk was given for future clinic days. This is an area where the women leaders of the Catholic Church play a significant role in community leadership. In that first contact, they let it be known quite clearly that they were only interested in WINGS providing rapid screenings for cervical cancer and expressed their distinct rejection for contraceptive methods. 

During the May visit, despite the common logistical challenges involved in nearly every clinical set-up, WINGS successfully held a cervical cancer clinic in the Catholic church in El Mora. The leader in charge of the church, besides showing her interest for the conservation of privacy, the importance of the follow-up and the attention of the nurses, showed a surprisingly supportive attitude for our work. WINGS, in our approach to underserved communities, has managed to create a relationship of trust with community leaders who are our greatest allies so that we can take our services to the individuals who need us most. 

Having a clinic in a Catholic church, with the support of community leaders, is a HUGE step for WINGS. After the success of the cervical cancer-screening clinic, WINGS staff was delighted to get the call to schedule a future contraceptive method clinic. We are so excited to see where this relationship might lead in El Mora and beyond.

We have learned over time that creating this relationship of trust requires continuous, unflagging efforts; especially in those communities where culturally there is more rejection for the contraceptive methods that we provide. 

Your support means that we have the resources and highly trained staff necessary to do this life-saving work. We appreciate your commitment to help us make a difference for so many women and their families.