By: Connie Skingel
In Haiti, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in May. This year, Dr. Jacques and the Mobile Medical Team offered a special gift to mothers in the community of Port Salut: the opportunity for free pap tests and breast cancer prevention consultations.
According to the Journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, “Cervical Cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in Haitian women.” Regular cancer screenings and early treatment have been shown to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality.
Breast cancer rates in Haiti rival that of the rest of the world, but according to Partners in Health, “a higher percentage of [Haitian] women will die from breast cancer than most other countries.” Their research has shown that better patient outcomes can be achieved when patients are diagnosed and treated early.
Unfortunately, getting an early diagnosis is challenging in Haiti as the country does not have a coordinated screening process or cancer registry. It is up to NGOs, like Healing Art Missions, to fill this important gap in care.
On Sunday, May 28, 2023, Healing Art Missions’ Mobile Medical Team honored Mother’s Day by performed 38 free pap tests and 11 breast cancer prevention consultations for women in the Port Salut area.