Prevent and Detect Cervical Cancer in Guatemala

Guatemala has one of the highest cervical cancer burdens in Latin America and the Caribbean. Each year, approximately 1,555 Guatemalan women are diagnosed and 872 die from the disease. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women ages 15 to 44 and the second leading cause among women of all ages in Guatemala. High mortality is driven by both disease prevalence and profound gaps in early detection and treatment. Fewer than 40% of women in Guatemala have ever been screened for cervical cancer, with even lower rates among rural and Indigenous women. Geographic isolation, transportation costs, time away from work, language barriers, and insufficent health infrastructure prevent many from accessing routine screening. As a result, cervical cancer is frequently detected at advanced stages, when symptoms are present and treatment options are fewer and less effective.

Since 2002, WINGS has integrated cervical cancer screening into our reproductive health services using visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), a low-cost and effective method that allows for immediate identification of visible cervical lesions. Over the past five years, we have conducted 20,584 cervical cancer screenings, and nearly one-third of the women screened received their very first screening through our program. 

In the first six months of 2026, we conducted 2,615 cervical cancer screenings nationwide. Of the women screened, almost 5% (133) tested positive for visible cervical lesions. For the women whose lesions met clinical criteria, 68 gave informed consent and chose to receive immediate thermocoagulation, preventing pre-cancerous lesions from progressing further. For 36 women requiring more advanced diagnostic evaluation, we provided referrals for colposcopy services. Additionally, seven women presented lesions suspected of being cancerous and were referred into the national health system for specialized care. These outcomes highlight both the scale of unmet need and the critical importance of early detection services. 

Thank you for supporting this work. Your generosity directly helps women across Guatemala access life-saving cervical cancer screenings and prevention services that would otherwise remain out of reach. Together, we are advancing earlier detection, expanding treatment access, and helping prevent avoidable deaths among women in underserved communities.