Cervical cancer research got a big boost from Guardian General Insurance Jamaica Limited, which donated $1.8 million to the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS). The funds were raised from QueenGuard policies written in 2023. Guardian General has pledged $1,000 from every such policy toward cervical cancer prevention and care. QueenGuard is a specially created policy for female drivers.

“While cervical cancer severely impacts women’s lives it is easily preventable,” explained GGJ President Karen Bhoorasingh, “because it takes up to 11 years to present itself. It is also often overlooked although it is the third most common cancer affecting Jamaican women.” Bhoorasingh hopes GGJ’s donation from QueenGuard will help to expand screenings for the cancer. “There are a lot of underserved women in Jamaica, and all it requires is a pap smear.”

The GGJ President mused that it was a no-brainer for the company to come up with a policy for women because GGJ’s staff is majority female, even in management. “Females are more patient drivers, so they are a bit more careful and are more risk averse,” Bhoorasingh said. “It is part of our female DNA,” the GGJ executive noted, adding that it was also easy to decide to support cervical cancer since it affects females from 15 to 44, “but all women are at risk.”

The Jamaica Cancer Society’s executive director Michael Leslie says more screenings mean early detection, and that means the survival rate of those afflicted increases. “We believe if we do a mammogram for every woman over 40 many lives can be saved,” Leslie explained. He thanked Bhoorasingh for creating the QueenGuard policy and for GGJ’s donation that he promised would boost the JCS’ cancer awareness programmes. “Our mandate is to build cancer awareness in Jamaica and we take that mandate seriously.”

The Guardian Group is a generous supporter of the JCS’s efforts to curb cervical and prostate cancers. Since the inception of QueenGuard in 2019, Guardian General has donated over J$3 million to the JCS for cervical cancer.