Chambers County Leadership Program
VACCINATION IS KEY! WIPE OUT HPV
OPERATION WIPE OUT: A Movement Sparked by High School Students in Chambers County
OPERATION WIPE OUT has gained remarkable momentum over the past few years, due in large part to an inspiring initiative in Chambers County—a community defined by its determination and heart. This movement found its roots in the students of LaFayette and Valley High Schools, whose passion and commitment played a critical role in showing the world what can be accomplished when a community comes together.
Chambers County holds the unfortunate distinction of having the highest cervical cancer incidence rate in Alabama. Recognizing the urgent need for change, local high school students took action. High schoolers enrolled in the Health Science Career Technical Education Program were invited to lead a communication campaign to raise awareness about cervical cancer and promote the importance of HPV vaccination.
The Chambers County Leadership Program, created through this effort, closely aligns with the overall state OPERATION WIPE OUT initiative—working in concert with partners across Alabama to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. Under the leadership of Ms. Jennifer Williams, Health Science instructor and head of the Leadership Academy, students worked in partnership with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (through a National Cancer Institute grant), the Rotary Club of LaFayette, Chambers County School District, and Alabama Department of Public Health.
The students jumped at the chance to take part in this project, which was built into their school curriculum. Through hands-on leadership 
training, they learned how to plan, launch, and measure the success of a public health campaign. Working in teams, they created a powerful communication campaign that used different ways to reach people—from posters to social media. They also organized an HPV vaccination drive and visited local middle schools to lead fun and interactive lessons about HPV and cervical cancer.
Middle schoolers received activity books and goodie bags with important information for their parents about getting screened for cervical cancer. Their hard work is paying off as 81% of students at LaFayette High School and 65% at Valley High School had completed all recommended doses of the HPV vaccine (2025 data obtained through the Alabama Department of Public Health).
To help others follow in their footsteps, the students developed a “toolkit” designed to guide other communities across Alabama in launching similar efforts. This toolkit serves as a roadmap for empowering youth, spreading awareness, and proving that—with the right knowledge and resources—they too can be part of eliminating cervical cancer together.
Thanks to the hard work and passion of these students, the efforts in Chambers County are just getting started. Every year, a new group of juniors and seniors will take over the mission of educating their classmates and community, making sure that OPERATION WIPE OUT keeps growing and making a difference both in the county and across the state. After making great progress in encouraging HPV vaccination, the students are now also focusing on two more important steps to help prevent cervical cancer: regular screening and making sure people get the follow-up care or treatment they need. Their big goal? To help Chambers County go from having the highest rate of cervical cancer to the lowest!
The toolkit can be accessed at www.operationwipeout.org/about/resources
View posters designed by Chambers County Students!
