Reviewed by: Cindy Martin
180+ community leaders on a mission to eliminate cervical cancer in Alabama
Reading time: 3 minutes
Today, over 180 public healthcare professionals, civic leaders and advocates across 33 Alabama counties came together for the OPERATION WIPE OUT Summit in Birmingham.
This is the second event of its kind—held to raise awareness about HPV and cervical cancer prevention in Alabama.
OPERATION WIPE OUT
OPERATION WIPE OUT is a collaborative effort between the Alabama Department of Public Health, UAB, Rotary clubs in Alabama and other partners.
The goal? To eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in Alabama by 2033.
According to OPERATION WIPE OUT’s website, cervical cancer mortality rates track nearly 50% higher in Alabama than in the rest of the country.
Black females in Alabama have a higher cervical cancer mortality rate than white females, with a rate of 3.5 versus 3.2 (compared to 3.5 versus 4.0 in 2018!)
Through events like today’s Summit, this team aims to remove barriers to communities receiving education, HPV vaccination, screening and treatment for cervical cancer.
A collaboration between Alabama Department of Public Health, UAB, Rotary clubs in Alabama + other partners
This state-wide effort involves the collective strength of medical and community partners to help deliver educational and clinical resources to local schools, healthcare providers and other organizations.
Today’s Summit brought together primary care providers, public health leaders, advocates, non-profit and civic leaders from across Alabama to discuss strategies to increase access to cervical cancer prevention resources.
OPERATION WIPE OUT Summit (Bham Now) 
Civic leader Mary Boehm (Bham Now) 
(L-R) Bruce Rogers and Susan Jackson, Rotary Club of Birmingham (Bham Now) 
Amy Ikner, Julie Till, Rhonda Hollon, Misty Price, Kelli Hardy, ADPH (Bham Now) 
Volunteers Gabi Hembree-Lee, Bham Now, Tanya Shunnara, Dentons Sirote (Bham Now)
Check out some of the featured speakers of the OPERATION WIPE OUT Summit:
- Bruce Rogers, President, Rotary Club of Birmingham
- Lora Blalock, Executive Director, Rotary Club of Birmingham
- David Allgood, District Governor, Rotary International District 6860
- Dr. Scott Harris, State Health Officer, Alabama Department of Public Health
- Dr. Warner Huh, Chair, UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Nancy Wright, Director, Cancer Prevention and Control Division, Alabama Department of Public Health
- Dr. Isabel Scarinci, Vice-Chair for Global and Rural Health, UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Join the fight to eliminate cervical cancers in Alabama by 2033
Cervical cancer is a devastating disease that impacts women’s lives, their families and their employers. The good news? It is a preventable cancer that can be eliminated as a public health threat.
Fun fact—Alabama is the first and only state in the U.S. with a comprehensive plan to eliminate cervical cancer.
Everyone can play a role by:
- Vaccinating more children and young adults against HPV
- Offering HPV screenings for women to catch cervical cancer early
- Ensuring women who need follow-up have access to healthcare
- Partnering with OPERATION WIPE OUT + see how you can play a role in eliminating cervical cancer in Alabama.
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