Maria, 60, is a midwife. She is widowed and is the mother of three grown children. She always knew that she should have a Pap smear, but because of financial constraints, she could never afford to. When she heard a radio announcement about WINGS’ low-cost VIA/Cryo exam, she came to a WINGS mobile clinic. Maria feels that as a midwife she has a duty to the women of her community, most of whom aren’t aware of the risks of cervical cancer, to set a good example by getting an exam. During her visit with WINGS, Maria also learned about a variety of family planning methods that weren’t available during her reproductive years. She is grateful for WINGS’ affordable services because she recognizes that many women in her community will benefit from them.
Hilda is a 27-year-old woman who lives with her husband and their two children. Although Hilda is trained as a bilingual secretary, her husband won’t allow her to work outside the home. Hilda first heard about WINGS while she was taking her children to a doctor’s appointment at the town center. The doctor encouraged Hilda to participate in an upcoming visit from WINGS, where a nurse would provide cervical cancer screenings with same-day results. Hilda had never been screened for cervical cancer before, but she was considering attending because it was so convenient; WINGS was coming right to the town center. In addition, her mother told her that she was coming to have an exam. The ultimate incentive, however, came when Hilda recalled that a woman in a nearby town had recently died from cervical cancer, which had gone undetected for about six months. Before coming to WINGS for her cervical cancer screening, Hilda didn’t know very much about the procedure. She had heard that having a Pap smear meant removing the uterus so that it could be drained of fluid, cleaned and then put back inside. Luckily, Hilda now knows more about the exam itself and understands the risks of cervical cancer. Hilda’s experience with WINGS was life-changing. Her screening showed pre-cancerous cell growth, which was removed through cryotherapy. “I think I am going to be a lot more responsible and careful with myself because I now know that my health depends on it,” she told a WINGS staff member. Hilda’s vigilance is critical if she wants to realize her dreams of watching her children grow up happily. Now with WINGS’ services, Hilda has better information and more options to care for and monitor her own health.
Maria Antonia, 44, has had 14 pregnancies, including three miscarriages, and has nine living children. She came to WINGS after having waited three months in vain for Pap smear results from her local health clinic. When she heard that WINGS was conducting screenings with same-day results, she decided to get tested again. It is lucky she did, as the results showed that she had cervical cancer. Within twenty-four hours, WINGS’ cervical cancer nurse brought Maria to a hospital for radiotherapy treatment. Now Maria looks forward to sharing her story with other women in her community so that they understand the risks of cervical cancer and decide to get screened.