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Representatives from the Alabama Department of Public Health came to Monday’s LaFayette City Council meeting to discuss the rising rates of cervical cancer and mortality rates in Chambers County. Their program, Alabama Breast and Cervical Cancer Awareness program (ABCCA), aims to address the growing rates of the preventable disease.

In Chambers County, right now, over 700 women ages 40 to 64 are uninsured.

“Again, almost 700 women in this county [are uninsured], and our programs served 40 last year,” said Stephen Jaye, a health services administrator of ABCCA.

The ABCCA program also offers services to those diagnosed with cervical cancer in getting Medicaid to cover treatments for the disease.

“This is my call to action to you. So we can help your citizens,” Jaye said. “Because again, they’re actively dying at a higher rate, not just at a higher rate, but at a higher rate of something that’s completely preventable.”

The free program has been around for over 25 years, helping women receive free mammograms and HPV pap.

“We are here to ask for you all to help us find the target population that’s the underserved for ladies aged 40-64,” said Linda Hayes, public health outreach coordinator for ABCCA.

The ABCCA is a statewide program that serves uninsured and underserved communities with limited healthcare access. They provide free HPV screenings, cervical cancer screenings and mammograms.

According to Jaye, Alabama is third in mortality rate in the US for cervical cancer. “Cervical cancer is completely preventable. So to have one person pass away from it is one too many,” he said.

Chambers County has the highest mortality rate for cervical cancer in the state.

“So if that’s not a call to action, I’m not sure what it is,” Jaye added.

Jaye said the program coordinators aim to work with community-based organizations, community leaders and centers to help spread important information about preventive measures, free screening services and treatment help.

The ADPH has been working with LaFayette High School for over the past year on getting kids vaccinated and educating parents.

They have also been connected with the Chambers County Health and Wellness Center, a partnership between LaFayette, Chambers County Commission and Auburn University Rural Health Outreach Initiative.

The HPV vaccination is able to protect against cervical cancer, Jaye said, because 99 percent of all cervical cancers are caused by a strain of the HPV virus.

Over 700 Chambers County women from age 21 to 64, which is the pap screening age, haven’t had one in three years. That’s almost 700 women on Medicaid who haven’t had one.

“So again, this isn’t just an uninsured problem. This is a problem here in Chambers County period,” Jaye said. “I know access to care and transportation and education of these cancers all come into play. But again, it’s no excuse.”

The group will be at the back-to-school bash put on by PHYRE on July 27. They will also be hosting a women’s health event on Aug 19. They hope to bring the Montgomery Cancer Center’s mobile mammography unit and Quality Life Health Services to the CCCHWC for free pap tests, cervical cancer screenings and mammograms.

Jaye said that their goal is to make the event an ongoing one. He and Hayes both commended Fire Chief Jim Doody and the rest of the staff at the CCCHWC for their work. Hayes said they also hope to raise awareness of the community center and its importance as a resource.

“From my understanding, the only primary care physician in the area is retiring soon, too,” Jaye said. “So again, all more reasons to start probably directing some traffic over to the community center as well.”