Women's College Hospital hosts record cervical cancer screening for Black women
The fifth annual event welcomed 72 participants, providing 49 cervical cancer screenings and 44 breast cancer screenings in a culturally safe space.
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Women's College Hospital hosted its fifth annual cervical cancer screening event for Black women on Friday, welcoming a record 72 participants—the largest turnout in the program's history.
The event provided 49 cervical cancer screenings, 44 breast cancer screenings, along with consultations, breast ultrasounds, and clinical breast exams. Hospital officials say the initiative addresses significant barriers that disproportionately affect Black women, including racism in healthcare, limited access to primary care, transportation challenges, childcare needs, and language barriers.
According to a national survey by the Black Women's Institute for Health, nearly half of Black women in Canada report delaying or avoiding healthcare because they fear experiencing racism or being dismissed by healthcare providers. Canada's Public Health Agency recognizes anti-Black racism as a social determinant of health, noting it contributes to poorer health outcomes through barriers in healthcare, education, employment, and housing.
The event is designed to create a culturally safe space for Black women, though hospital officials emphasize that no one is turned away. The goal is to improve access for communities that have historically faced exclusion from healthcare. While the annual event specifically targets Black women, organizers say the underlying principle—addressing systemic barriers to care—extends to all marginalized communities.
