GUARDIAN General Insurance Jamaica Limited has reaffirmed its commitment to women’s health with a donation $1.5 million to the Jamaica Cancer Society (JCS), generated from QueenGuard motor insurance premiums for the 2024–2025 period.

This contribution will facilitate 250 free cervical cancer screenings (Pap smears) for underserved women across Jamaica.

“Guardian General’s QueenGuard is more than just insurance — it’s support for our queens in every sense,” said Karen Bhoorasingh, president of Guardian General Insurance Jamaica Limited.

“We designed QueenGuard intentionally for female drivers, with benefits that matter most to them. By extending this impact to critical health screening, we are helping women protect both their families and their futures,” added Bhoorasingh.

QueenGuard is a motor insurance product specially crafted for women motorists, offering affordable premiums and coverage features tailored to female drivers.

The policy includes windscreen coverage, MotorAssist support in the event of breakdowns and accidents, key replacement, coverage for personal belongings such as handbags and child car seats, and protection against uninsured motorists.

Cervical cancer continues to pose a serious health challenge for Jamaican women.

According to the Global Cancer Observatory’s 2022 data, cervical cancer (cervix uteri) was the third most common cancer diagnosed among women in Jamaica, with 376 new cases, representing nearly 10 per cent of all female cancers that year.

It also ranked as the second-leading cause of cancer death among Jamaican women in 2022, underscoring the critical need for expanded screening and early detection services across the island.

Of the 3,787 new cancer cases reported in Jamaican women in 2022, cervical cancer accounted for almost 10 per cent, highlighting its significant impact on women’s health in the population.

“The Jamaica Cancer Society extends heartfelt thanks to Guardian General Insurance for this generous donation and their continued support,” said Roshane Reid-Koomson, executive director of the Jamaica Cancer Society.

“Partnerships like this bring us closer to the global goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem by 2030 through the 90-70-90 strategy, particularly the second pillar which aims for 70 per cent of women to be screened with a high-performance test.

“With this support, 250 more women will gain access to vital screening services they might otherwise not afford. Together, we move closer to reducing the burden of cervical cancer in Jamaica,” added Reid-Koomson, explaining that cervical cancer is one of the few cancers where deaths are largely preventable.

“However, prevention is only possible when women have access to screening and prompt follow-up with their medical practitioner when abnormalities are detected. Early detection of cervical cancer through regular Pap smears saves lives,” noted Reid-Koomson.

Since the launch of QueenGuard in 2019, more than $4.5 million has been donated to the Jamaica Cancer Society in support of cervical cancer initiatives.

A donation of $1.8 million in 2024 funded 300 free Pap smears, and this year’s contribution continues that legacy of impact by expanding access to screening for women who need it most.