Attacking Cervical Cancer in Guatemala

Bellaire Rotary is helping fund training and treatment of cervical cancer in rural Guatemala in cooperation with the Faith in Practice  Women's Health Project. Local practitioners are trained in the Johns Hopkins VIA/Cryotherapy method to screen with acetic acid (VIA), then freeze and kill pre-cancerous cells discovered, all in a single patient-visit. Faith in Practice sends medical volunteers to provide the training, screenings, and cryotherapy, and has certified more than 200 doctors, nurses, and educators in the VIA/Cryo program. Cervical cancer reportedly is the number one killer of women in Guatemala, with eight women dying there for every one that dies in the U.S. from the disease. Women in impoverished rural areas are particularly vulnerable. Faith in Practice has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for the past decade and ranks in the top 1% of all charities rated for fiscal responsibility and efficiency.