FARMINGTON – The state of New Mexico announced the launch of a new hotline Feb. 12 to help connect women to clinics for cancer screenings.

The hotline is to help get support and services to women who want to be screened for breast and cervical cancer.

The hotline is managed by the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and will connect people to a health care clinic that partners with the program and provides screenings free of charge.

“The BCC program provides free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services through health care providers across New Mexico,” the New Mexico Department of Health said in a news release.

San Juan Regional Medical Center is one of the local clinics that works with the BCC program. Laura Werbner, spokeswoman for the hospital, said the hospital is “committed to the health and well-being of our community, especially women.”

“As a nonprofit organization serving our community, early detection is key and helps low-income, uninsured and underserved women gain access to lifesaving screening programs for early detection and breast and cervical cancer,” Werbner said.

A spokesperson for the BCC program said the program has partnered with San Juan Regional for more than 20 years.

Screening tests are important as they check for signs of possible cancer in a person who does not have any symptoms. Breast and cervical cancer screenings can find cancer early when it is easier to treat. Cervical cancer screening can even find changes early so they can be treated before they turn into cancer.

To be eligible, a person must be low-income, have little or no health insurance, and be a woman, or transgender man or woman, or a person with a nonbinary gender.

For more information, visit www.nmhealth.org/about/phd/pchb/bcc or call the hotline at (833) 525-1811.

mmitchell@durangoherald.com