More than 230 women from southern Merida participated in a fair focused on preventive health organized by Pro Mujer and supported by MetLife Foundation as part of their joint effort to provide health services and training opportunities to indigenous and rural women in southeastern Mexico.
On January 30 and 31, a total of 478 people—including 231 women—from Merida, Yucatan, attended the preventive health fair “United for Community Health,” organized by Pro Mujer and supported by MetLife Foundation, along with Universidad Marista and the Women’s Institute of the City Council.
The fair, open to the entire southern Merida community, focused on preventive health, offering a wide range of services, including basic health checks, diabetes screenings, and clinical breast exams for early detection of breast cancer—a condition that 176,672 Mexican women aged 50 and older have experienced, representing 42.8% of those who reported having had cancer at some point in their lives (ENASEM 2021).
During the event, 25% of the participants who received a breast examination were detected with abnormalities and were immediately referred for a more detailed evaluation. Additionally, 150 women received free vouchers for mammograms and Pap smears, as well as 108 vouchers for diabetes screening tests.
At the fair, over 320 health screenings were conducted, and 73 people participated in workshops on sexual and reproductive health using an interactive chatbot, which guided participants through various informational modules to help them make informed decisions about their sexual rights, family planning, and gender-based violence prevention.
In addition to preventive health workshops, other event sessions focused on training opportunities and financial health, which are key topics to encourage entrepreneurship and economic independence within the community.
Project impact
The health fair is part of the “Healthy Communities” project, launched with support from MetLife Foundation in 2024, to transform the lives of women in southeastern Mexico by providing access to health services and training opportunities.
In just one year, we have trained over 1,000 women across southeastern Mexican states through our free training platform, Emprende Pro Mujer. Through our educational chatbots on breast cancer, diabetes, and sexual and reproductive health, we have reached over 3,000 users and offered more than 640 free mammograms to women in vulnerable conditions.
Learn more about the project at https://comunidadsaludable.promujer.org/.
About Pro Mujer
Pro Mujer is a non-profit social enterprise that for over 34 years has provided services and tools to women in Latin America so they can reach their full potential, improve their living conditions, and transform them into agents of change for their communities.
It operates through a holistic and integrated model that seeks to expand the access of women in the region to health services, increase their financial inclusion, and provide them with training opportunities.
Through a deep understanding of the most pressing needs faced by women in Latin America, Pro Mujer designs innovative programs that seek to address issues such as gender-based violence and the digital gender gap. Pro Mujer is a pioneer in the region in promoting and raising awareness about gender lens investing as an effective mechanism to close gaps and boost company productivity.
Pro Mujer’s work is closely aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and offers tangible results in eight SDGs: No Poverty (SDG 1), Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), Quality Education (SDG 4), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16).
More information at www.promujer.org.
About MetLife Foundation
At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to promoting inclusive economic mobility. We collaborate with nonprofit organizations and provide grants aligned with three strategic focus areas: economic inclusion, financial health, and resilient communities while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help maximize impact. The MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its inception, the MetLife Foundation has contributed more than $1 billion to strengthen the communities where MetLife operates. For more information about the MetLife Foundation, visit www.MetLife.org.
