UAB Plays Major Role in Launching Statewide Action Plan to Eliminate Cervical Cancer

The University of Alabama at Birmingham, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Public Health and the American Cancer Society, recently launched Wipe Out Cervical Cancer ­— a statewide action plan to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in Alabama.

Cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination against cancer-causing strains of the human papillomavirus, periodic cervical screenings and, if necessary, treatment of cervical lesions before they develop into cancer. Yet, Alabama ranks third in mortality and incidence of cervical cancer in the United States with great disparities across races and counties.

“This is a major win and a step forward for the women in the state of Alabama. We are so grateful and excited to be able to work side by side with the Alabama Department of Public Health to launch this campaign and serve as true leaders and advocates for cervical cancer prevention and elimination in the United States,” said Warner Huh, MD, chair of the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Wipe Out Cervical Cancer represents a road map with evidence-based strategies to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in Alabama by 2033. Some of the strategies include providing the community with information and support to get children and teenagers vaccinated against HPV, helping women get screened, and offering support for follow-up care in the event of abnormal results.

“The identified strategies are evidence-based and not limited to education only,” said Isabel Scarinci, PhD, vice chair for Global and Rural Health for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. “It is also important that we make sure parents know where to get their children vaccinated and women know where they can get screened for cervical cancer. Women also need to be assured that they will have support and care in the event of abnormal cervical cancer screening results.”

The plan is the result of a 2022 summit, hosted by the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 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.

In addition to UAB, Wipe Out Cervical Cancer partners include TogetHer for Health and Rotary Club of Birmingham.