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Women Taxi Drivers in Mexico Receive Mammograms for Free

19 noviembre, 2021

Blog

Joining forces with Beat, Pro Mujer is expanding access to mammograms in Mexico as part of its efforts to increase breast cancer preventive care.  

Pro Mujer and Beat, a taxi and ride-hailing mobile app that currently employs more than 69,000 women in Latin America, have joined forces to provide free mammograms to women in Mexico who work as taxi drivers using the app. In addition to providing free mammograms, the initiative aims to raise awareness about breast cancer screenings and encourage more women to prioritize their health.  

The mammograms will be available to women who are older than 40 or who are at risk of developing breast cancer and, in cases where results are abnormal, Pro Mujer’s health team will provide them with the treatment needed.  

Pro Mujer has built this partnership in response to the alarming reality of breast cancer in Latin America. This is one of the leading causes of death for women in the region. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 462,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 100,000 die from it every year.    

Expanding access to preventive care is crucial to saving lives. According to WHO, the chances of recovery from breast cancer are 90% if caught early. However, there are still barriers in accessing preventive care in Latin America. According to a report from The Economist about the existing gaps, the scope of preventive health for breast cancer in Mexico is only 22%, and “the supply of mammography equipment is usually scarce in the region and in some areas up to 20% of the machines need repairs.” 

“Pro Mujer’s mission has always been to provide women in Latin America with the tools and services needed so they can reach their full potential and become agents of change in their communities. Expanding access to health care is one of Pro Mujer’s priorities. We continue to ensure that more women have access to preventive care, screenings and education to raise awareness about the importance of early detection. We celebrate this partnership with Beat that will help us increase our impact exponentially,” said Carmen Correa, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Pro Mujer.  

Pro Mujer will provide different content on risk factors, how to early detect abnormalities and the benefits of early detection through a chatbot.  

Additionally, Marcela Gonzalez, Head of Marketing at Beat highlighted: “We are partnering with an important organization like Pro Mujer so our women taxi drivers can have access to information about early detection and prevention so they can share it with their friends and families. We hope to reach more people and save more lives by raising awareness.” 

Learn more about Pro Mujer’s health initiatives and breast cancer prevention in Latin America.