Alabama ranks third in the nation in the incidence and deaths from a cancer that can be prevented—cervical cancer. To address this serious public health problem, primary care providers and community leaders from throughout the state convened and developed a statewide action plan to eliminate cervical cancer in Alabama by 2033.

RCB has partnered with the Alabama Department of Public Health, the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center for Operation Wipe Out Cervical Cancer Alabama. 

A pilot program in Chambers County, AL, where incidence of the preventable illness is highest, was built upon a framework developed through RCB’s work to prevent and treat cancer in Sri Lanka over the past decade. 

The statewide action plan uses evidence-based strategies to promote HPV vaccination, promote cervical cancer screening, and ensure adherence to follow-up in the event of abnormal cervical cancer screening results. HPV vaccinations are a powerful tool to protect children and adolescents before they are exposed to the virus. Cervical cancer screening among women 21 to 65 years of age detects abnormal cells in the cervix which can develop into cancer. Appropriate follow-up and treatment for women with abnormal results improves the chance of recovery from cervical cancer.

“I want to dedicate the rest of my life to cervical cancer prevention control because this cancer can be prevented and I will not stop until we get there,” shares Rotarian Isabel Scarinci, UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center Associate Director for Globalization and Cancer. “Everyone has a role in this mission, like we did with polio and I truly believe…we're going to do it and Alabama is going to be the model for the country and the world.” 

For more information on the statewide action plan to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in Alabama, please visit alabamapublichealth.gov/bandc/assets/cervicalcancer_actionplan.pdf.