Prevent and Detect Cervical Cancer in Guatemala

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer, yet it remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Guatemala. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, WINGS provides cervical cancer screenings nationwide and ensures patients receive timely, respectful care where it is most needed. 

During a recent webinar as part of our 2025 Knowledge Series, WINGS hosted Dr. Linda Eckert, an internationally recognized expert in cervical cancer prevention and author of Enough: Because We Can Stop Cervical Cancer, and Dr. Michelle Dubón, WINGS’ Medical Director, for a conversation that bridged global and local perspectives on this disease.

Dr. Eckert shared that the findings from both her research and her life experiences working in low-resource settings early in her medical career revealed a painful truth - too many people die from a disease that science already knew how to prevent. While tools such as cervical cancer screening, vaccination, and treatment exist worldwide, although less so in rural, low-resource settings, cervical cancer persists because access to care remains unequal, especially for people who are most at risk. 

Dr. Dubón shared that she has witnessed similar realities in Guatemala over the last 20 years. When she was a new doctor after finishing medical school, Dr. Dubón’s first patient was a woman with cervical cancer named Marta. As their doctor/patient relationship grew, Marta’s illness became deeply personal to Dr. Dubón. When Marta died, she left five children behind without a mother. That loss shaped Dr. Dubón’s lifelong commitment to cervical cancer prevention and her vision of a future with no more families torn apart by a disease that can be detected early and treated. 

In the conversation, both physicians emphasized that there is still, unfortunately, cultural stigma surrounding cervical cancer because of its connection to a sexually transmitted infection. Fear of stigma often plays a role in women’s hesitancy to get screened and treated. 

At WINGS, nurses are trained to provide rights-based and person-centered care, offering clear and accurate information in local languages whenever possible.  Through our clinics and mobile units, we bring access to cervical cancer screenings to those who need it the most. 

The webinar conversation closed with a shared recognition that ending cervical cancer requires action at every level, from global advocacy to community-based care. Dr. Eckert emphasized that ending cervical cancer depends on screening methods that are reliable, affordable, and integrated into health systems. Dr. Dubón illustrated how WINGS is putting this approach into practice. At the national policy level, WINGS is a member of the National Cancer Prevention Working Group and contributes to the review of national protocols, guidelines, and policy advocacy efforts in Guatemala related to cervical cancer. At the local service provision level, WINGS’ impact is significant.

Thanks to the support of donors, lifesaving cervical cancer screenings are reaching people who would otherwise be left behind, especially those in rural areas and in vulnerable conditions. Your generosity brings us closer to a future where cervical cancer no longer takes lives - thank you.