January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and Marion County Public Health is offering free screenings through the Care for Yourself Program.

According to the American Cancer Society, in 2023, 13,960 new cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed and over 4,300 women lost their lives to the disease. The average age of being diagnosed with cervical cancer is 50 years old and finding it early is crucial for recovery. The Care for Yourself program provides breast and cervical cancer screening services to underserved people in Iowa. 

To qualify for the program, participants must earn a net income less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level as determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To receive these services, an individual must also be between 21-64 years of age. Services that are available at Marion County Public Health through this program are clinical breast exams, mammograms, pap tests, HPV tests, diagnostic tests, and barrier assistance. Del Bennett with Marion County Public Health says the program is meant for those who many not have access to the testing otherwise

“It is for persons who have no insurance or maybe their insurance doesn’t cover the pelvic exam, mammogram or testing for cancers. The care for yourself program will help cover those costs with no cost to the individual.”

To see if you qualify for this program you can call Marion County Public Health at 641-828-2238.