MONTGOMERY-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. The launch of “Operation Wipe Out Cervical Cancer Alabama” was announced at a news conference on May 8.
The statewide plan is the result of a summit held in Birmingham in the fall of 2022, where primary care providers and public health leaders representing 42 of the 67 Alabama counties came together to identify barriers, facilitators and solutions to cervical cancer prevention and control in Alabama.
Partners with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) are the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, TogetHer for Health, Rotary Club of Birmingham and the American Cancer Society.
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 cervical cancer screening abnormal 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. Specific benchmarks will be monitored toward achievement of this goal.
“The launching of the statewide action plan is a historic milestone in the fight against cervical cancer in Alabama,” Nancy Wright, Director of the ADPH Cancer Prevention and Control Division, said. “It is an opportunity for all segments of society to get involved, including parents, physicians, business leaders, community-based organizations, public health systems, and academic centers.”
For more information on the statewide action plan to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in Alabama, please visit https://www.
Media Release/Nancy Wright/ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH
