Bringing Cervical Screenings to the Developing World
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and we are proud to be supporting CureCervicalCancer, an organization dedicated to the early detection, treatment, and cure of cervical cancer in developing countries. Not only will we provide a financial contribution to help further their efforts, but you can look for more content this month about the prevalence of cervical cancer and how early detection can save lives. We encourage you to learn more and consider making a donation.
About CureCervicalCancer
Every year over 300,000 women die of cervical cancer, women who are often in the prime of their lives. They die due to lack of access to the most basic care from this disease that is nearly 100% preventable. Cervical cancer is a disease of inequality, with 90% of deaths disproportionately occurring in resource-poor countries. The WHO predicts that without urgent intervention, deaths from cervical cancer will increase by over 50% in the next two decades.
CureCervicalCancer works with ground partners who link us to the community, the healthcare system, and national and local leaders. We train healthcare professionals in “See & Treat” and establish “See & Treat” clinics within already existing healthcare facilities. “See & Treat” is a simple, cost effective procedure to detect pre-cancerous changes with the naked eye using acetic acid (vinegar). The cells can be immediately treated with ablation methods (thermal ablation or cryotherapy) which destroy the pre-cancerous tissue completely in 85-90% of cases.
- They identify the highest need communities around the globe, provide the necessary equipment for “See & Treat”, and establish permanent cervical cancer prevention clinics.
- They conduct specialized training for local healthcare professionals and community health workers, so that they can continue to provide life-saving services to the women in their communities.
- They aim to achieve sustainability by building local capacity. They increase the impact of their community-driven model by leveraging the resources/expertise of national and local ground partners.
