94. How Rotary Can Eliminate Cervical Cancer

Rotary Clubs around the world have successfully united toward the eradication of polio.Now, we, Rotarians, have the opportunity to use the same strategies, the same tools, the same determination to eliminate cervical cancer. From prevention to treatment, there are many entry points to intervene ranging from preventive HPV vaccination, promotion of screening and follow-up, and social mobilization. This presentation will focus on why cervical cancer elimination is an achievable goal, and lessons learned from small actions that are leading to major impact.Our speaker, Dr Isabel C. Scarinci, is a professor and Vice-Chair for Global and Rural Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Birmingham, Alabama. Professionally, she has dedicated her career to the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based programs in cervical cancer prevention and control among underserved populations. As a Rotarian, she has partnered with the Rotary Club of Colombo (Sri Lanka), and more recently with the Rotary Club of Guatemala-Sur, toward the elimination of cervical cancer in these countries. In 2023 Alabama became the first and only state in the U.S. to launch a statewide plan to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem through a partnership between the Rotary Club of Birmingham and other organizations. In 2021, Dr Scarinci was chosen as one of the six champions of health worldwide by Rotary International for her work in cervical cancer.To learn more, go to:https://operationwipeout.org/