Texas Cancer Plan

A Statewide Call to Action
For All Texans

published by the

Texas Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan

The Texas Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan 2027–2032 provides a unified, statewide roadmap to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in Texas. Developed with input from more than 250 stakeholders, the Plan advances evidence-based strategies across three essential pillars: HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening, and timely follow-up, diagnosis, and treatment. Through coordinated, community-centered action, it aims to expand access to prevention and care, and ensure that every Texan has access to the information and services needed to prevent, detect, and treat cervical cancer.

The Plan provides a framework that can be adapted to the unique needs of different populations and regions, with an emphasis on reaching medically underserved and historically marginalized communities. Furthermore, it is aligned with the Texas Cancer Plan. By aligning partners, leveraging existing resources, strengthening patient navigation and community outreach, and using data to guide implementation and evaluation, Texas can accelerate progress toward a future where cervical cancer is a disease of the past.

Click to download the Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan

Joint Declaration
Commitments to the Texas Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan 2027-2032

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet Texas has the eighth highest incidence rate and sixth highest mortality rate in the nation. Some counties see incidence rates that are two to three times higher than the national average. These numbers reflect real women, families and communities. We have the tools to change this through HPV vaccinations, routine screenings and timely follow-ups and treatments.

The following organizations and individuals declare their commitments in support of the Texas Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan (LSCCEP) and to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem in Texas. Like the lone star, these commitments exemplify pursuing a singular goal through many local actions.

The LSCCEP calls on all Texans – including policymakers, health systems, schools, funders, community members and more – to join us in taking action by aligning and sharing resources and holding ourselves accountable for progress. No Texan should suffer or die from a disease we know how to prevent. With coordinated efforts and sustained collaboration, we can make cervical cancer a disease of the past in Texas.

Total Number of Commitments (as of 10/05/2026): 41

Organizational and individual pledges and commitments

Each organization here will identify the strategies aligned with the Plan that fit their strengths and carry them out in their own communities.

Healthcare Systems and Academic Centers

Houston Methodist supports the Texas LSCCEP and the goal of eliminating cervical cancer in Texas. Guided by its mission to provide high-quality, cost-effective healthcare that delivers value to the people it serves in a caring, spiritual environment, Houston Methodist has clinicians, nurses and employees addressing some of the most pressing health challenges facing Texans. We will continue advancing evidence-based strategies that support cervical cancer prevention and early detection. This includes promoting HPV vaccination, expanding access to cervical cancer screening, encouraging timely follow-up care and treatment, and helping patients navigate the care they need. We look forward to working alongside healthcare providers, public health organizations, researchers and community groups across Texas to improve awareness, reduce barriers to care and expand access to preventive services. Together, we can help more Texans benefit from prevention and screening tools and move closer to eliminating cervical cancer for future generations.

Parkland Health endorses the goals of the LSCCEP and is committed to advancing cervical cancer prevention through initiatives included in our 2026-2028 Community Health Needs Assessment Implementation Plan. Parkland will continue efforts to improve HPV vaccination among eligible patients through community education and awareness, expanded access to vaccination, strategic partnerships, and electronic health record alerts that identify and outreach to patients who are eligible or overdue for vaccination. We will continue to track vaccines administered, educational activities, community partnerships, and implementation of HPV-related clinical decision support. In addition, Parkland's Women's Wellness mobile clinics will continue providing community-based women's health services, including wellness examinations and hrHPV/Pap testing, helping bring preventive care closer to underserved populations. Through these efforts and our broader cancer screening and care-navigation strategies, Parkland looks forward to collaborating with partners across Texas to reduce the burden of cervical cancer.

Rice University is proud to endorse the LSCCEP to advance the elimination of cervical cancer across Texas. In collaboration with Texas Medical Center partners, Rice commits to expanding interdisciplinary research on low-cost, point-of-care HPV diagnostics and educational mannequins to help train healthcare providers. By leveraging bioengineering expertise, Rice will improve access to community-level screenings for underserved populations. Over the next five years, we will focus our research on advancing low-cost diagnostic programs in rural and underserved settings in Texas, reaching 10,000 individuals by the end of 2030. Rice stands fully dedicated to translating innovation into lifesaving action for a cervical cancer-free Texas.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) commits to accelerating cervical cancer elimination across rural West Texas through building upon existing prevention and screening infrastructure and expanding access for remote communities. Current efforts include breast and cervical cancer prevention and screening through the Larry Combest Community Health and Wellness Center and CDC-supported work led by OB/GYN faculty in the Permian Basin. TTUHSC will continue to leverage expertise across Texas Tech Physicians, community-engaged research, community partners, and implementation science to strengthen HPV prevention, screening, navigation, and connections to a continuum of care. Through the Rural Cancer Collaborative, we will develop and evaluate innovative care-delivery models that integrate prevention and screening into rural communities, with the goal to identify approaches for scaling across West Texas. Working alongside FQHCs, health systems, public health agencies, and community organizations, TTUHSC will pursue funding and partnerships to advance the LSCCEP.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso is proud to endorse the LSCCEP and to advance the elimination of cervical cancer across Texas in partnership with this statewide effort, especially in far west Texas where geography and access barriers compound the need. In collaboration with UTHealth Houston and our partners in the Texas Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA), which spans across Texas, we are committed to expanding research on how to reach our constituents with low-cost, point-of-care HPV diagnostics. Our current CPRIT-funded cancer outreach program has demonstrated how trusted community health worker models can close screening gaps for uninsured and underserved populations. Building on this foundation, Texas Tech El Paso will continue to strengthen community-level screenings for the populations who need it most.

On behalf of University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) and the El Paso County Hospital District, I am submitting our commitment to support eliminating cervical cancer in Texas. As the region's public safety-net health system, UMC serves uninsured and underinsured border communities facing barriers to screening. UMC and UTHealth Houston's implementation science team are developing an initiative to bring self-collected HPV testing to the Texas-Mexico border. Beginning in 2027, UMC will distribute kits through its Neighborhood Clinics, co-design workflows, train staff, measure kit distribution and return rates, and navigate patients with abnormal results. This outreach will expand access for approximately 500 individuals who may not otherwise complete cervical cancer screening. We welcome collaboration as a border pilot site, including sharing workflows, Spanish-language materials, and staff training with other safety-net systems and convening a border-region working group. Submitted by R. Jacob Cintron, President and CEO.

The University of Texas System proudly endorses the Texas LSCCEP and its evidence-based strategies to increase HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening, and timely follow-up and treatment. Advancing the health of Texans is central to the mission of UT institutions. With more than 270,000 students and 160,000 faculty, healthcare professionals, researchers, and staff, the UT System offers a powerful statewide platform for education, research, innovation, and action. Collectively, UT institutions provide nearly 11.7 million outpatient visits each year, creating significant opportunities to advance cancer prevention and improve access to care. The UT System commits to sharing the Plan across its academic and health institutions and fostering collaboration, innovation, and measurable actions that reduce barriers to cervical cancer prevention and care. By leveraging our people, healthcare infrastructure, and $4.8 billion research enterprise, we will help accelerate progress toward eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem in Texas.

The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School (Dell Med) is proud to endorse the Texas LSCCEP. Dell Med is committed to working together with our community to advance and implement the strategies of the Plan, aligned with our vision to define the future of health. Dell Med’s existing efforts to prevent and eliminate cervical cancer include a state-wide CPRIT-funded randomized controlled trial on HPV self-collection in El Paso, econometric and decision science research focused on improving access to HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening, and a community health worker-led intervention to increase cancer awareness and prevention education. Dell Med commits to continuing to develop cutting-edge and community-centered research, training, and care programs toward the elimination of cervical cancer in Texas.

UTHealth Houston proudly endorses the LSCCEP and commits to supporting statewide efforts to eliminate cervical cancer through health education and promotion, research, implementation science, and community partnerships. Through the UTHealth Houston Office of Population Health, Institute for Implementation Science, and collaborations across our Schools, Institutes, and clinical partners, UTHealth Houston will promote evidence-based approaches to increase Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccination, improve access to cervical cancer screening and timely follow-up care, and reduce the suffering cervical cancer causes for Texas families. We commit to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting community-engaged initiatives, and translating research into practice. UTHealth Houston will also share the LSCCEP across our academic, clinical, and community networks, and looks forward to partnering with organizations statewide to achieve measurable reductions in cervical cancer incidence and mortality among Texans.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center proudly endorses the Texas LSCCEP and reaffirms its commitment to achieving cervical cancer elimination across Texas. Guided by our mission to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through excellence in patient care, research, prevention and education, UT MD Anderson is dedicated to advancing evidence-based strategies that support the goals of the Plan. For more than a decade, with support from CPRIT, UT MD Anderson has focused on cervical cancer prevention through statewide dissemination of provider training, patient navigation and Project ECHO® telementoring. Together, we have trained more than 700 healthcare professionals through 23 in-person trainings and approximately 250 ECHO sessions focused on cervical cancer prevention and navigation. UT MD Anderson remains committed to expanding HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening, HPV self-collection, workforce development and implementation research to ensure all Texans have access to prevention, early detection and high-quality care.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine (SOM) and UT Health RGV proudly endorse the LSCCEP and its bold vision of eliminating cervical cancer across Texas. As the academic health center serving South Texas, we are committed to advancing prevention, early detection, treatment access, and research that respond directly to the disproportionate cancer burden experienced in the Rio Grande Valley. UTRGV SOM and UT Health RGV are expanding access to cervical cancer education, HPV vaccination outreach, screening, navigation, and workforce development throughout the region. Over the coming years, we will continue to leverage our research, clinical, and community infrastructure to strengthen screening, diagnostic follow-up, referral pathways, and access to care, helping move Texas closer to a future free from cervical cancer.

The UTRGV South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research (UTRGV-ST-CECR) is pleased to express our strong support for the strategies outlined in the Texas LSCCEP. Our Center is dedicated to reducing cancer-related health disparities, advancing cancer prevention and research, and improving access to high-quality cancer care for communities throughout South Texas, including the Rio Grande Valley. Addressing barriers to HPV vaccination, routine screening, early detection, and timely treatment has the potential to significantly improve health outcomes and quality of life for individuals across our communities. Through our research, education, outreach, and collaborative partnerships, UTRGV-ST-CECR works to increase awareness of HPV-related cancers and strengthen evidence-based cancer prevention efforts throughout South Texas. We wholeheartedly endorse the strategies presented in the Texas LSCCEP and are proud to support this collaborative effort to reduce and ultimately eliminate cervical cancer across Texas.

Texas Children's is proud to endorse the Texas LSCCEP and its vision of eliminating cervical cancer in Texas. Cervical cancer prevention begins in childhood and adolescence through timely HPV vaccination. As one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive pediatric health systems, Texas Children’s commits to leveraging our healthcare network, clinical expertise and educational resources to increase awareness, confidence and uptake of HPV vaccination among eligible children and adolescents. Guided by our mission to create healthier futures for children and women, we will work with families, pediatricians, schools, community organizations and public health partners to champion evidence-based education on HPV vaccination, expand access to vaccination and help reduce barriers to preventive care. By strengthening HPV vaccination efforts and empowering families with trusted information, Texas Children’s is committed to preventing HPV-related cancers and helping move Texas closer to a cervical cancer-free future.

Federally Qualified Healthcare Centers and Community Health Centers

CommUnityCare Health Centers, together with system partners Central Health and Sendero Health Plans, proudly supports the strategies and goals of the LSCCEP. In line with our mission to strengthen the health and well-being of the communities we serve, our health system provides and promotes HPV vaccination, screening, and referral for treatment across Central Texas. CommUnityCare is implementing HPV self-collection to offer more flexible screening options and commit to contributing to a community of practice with other clinics advancing this approach. Central Health and Sendero Health Plans join this commitment by supporting coordinated access across the continuum of cervical cancer prevention, screening, and treatment for the patients and members we collectively serve. Together, we are proud to reduce the burden of cervical cancer and strongly support the LSCCEP aim to eliminate cervical cancer in Texas.

Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston endorses the goals of the Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination program within the state of Texas, to implement effective strategies for cervical cancer elimination through education, screening, treatment, and prevention. Specifically, Healthcare for the Homeless-Houston seeks to reduce barriers to care for housing-unstable and unhoused Texans, and improve their access to adequate cervical cancer prevention, education, and treatment.

Health Services of North Texas (HSNT) is committed to advancing the LSCCEP by expanding access to cervical cancer screening through the implementation of self-collected HPV screening tests in our primary care clinics. This evidence-based screening option allows eligible patients to complete screening during a routine primary care visit and provides an alternative for individuals who may be hesitant to undergo a traditional Pap exam. By reducing barriers and increasing patient choice, self-collection helps reach patients who might otherwise remain unscreened, supporting earlier detection and prevention of cervical cancer. Through provider engagement, patient education, and ongoing workflow integration, HSNT aims to increase cervical cancer screening rates by 5 percentage points from our current baseline of 64.8%.

MyCHN is committed to advancing the goals of the Texas LSCCEP as part of our mission to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve. MyCHN is a private, nonprofit regional health system with a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) designation serving communities across four counties in the Greater Houston and Gulf Coast region. As part of MyCHN's 2026 organizational commitment to cancer prevention, MyCHN is proud to be among the first FQHCs to implement HPV self-collection as a cervical cancer screening strategy, resulting in increased screening participation. MyCHN remains dedicated to advancing evidence-based approaches, including expanded HPV vaccination, screening, care coordination, and timely follow-up services for cervical cancer. Through continuous quality improvement initiatives and the delivery of high-quality, accessible care across its network, MyCHN is advancing the statewide goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health concern in Texas.

Su Clinica proudly endorses the Texas LSCCEP and its goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem in Texas. As a Federally Qualified Health Center serving the Rio Grande Valley, Su Clinica is committed to advancing access to high-quality cervical cancer prevention, screening, and treatment for the diverse communities we serve. Recognized in 2026 as a National Quality Leader in Cancer Screening, Su Clinica is dedicated to delivering evidence-based preventive care. Through clinical care, community partnerships, patient education, navigation, and innovative screening approaches, we are working to increase HPV vaccination, expand access to cervical cancer screening, and ensure timely follow-up and treatment. As an early adopter of HPV self-collection, we are proud to share our experience and lessons learned to help expand innovative screening approaches across Texas. We stand with partners statewide to ensure that no community is left behind. Together, we can eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem in Texas.

Health Departments

Hidalgo County Health and Human Services Department is proud to be aligned with the goals of the LSCCEP. We are committed to the elimination of cervical cancer across Texas through proactive community action. To support this critical mission, our department will participate in five educational outreach events every year dedicated to raising cervical cancer awareness. A core focus of these events is providing vital education on the HPV vaccine to increase community vaccination uptake and prevent diagnoses. Additionally, we will actively share evidence-based resources and updates across our social media platforms and official website to keep the public informed. Through education, vaccination advocacy, and continuous digital outreach, we strive to protect our community and help achieve a cervical cancer-free Texas.

Cervical cancer is preventable with HPV vaccinations, cervical cancer screenings and timely treatment of cervical pre-cancers. As the local public health department for the 4th largest city in the country, serving 2.3 million people, Houston Health Department (HHD) commits to endorsing the strategies laid out by the LSCCEP. HHD closely partners with the Texas Vaccines for Children Program (TVFC), administered through Department of State Health Services, which ensures that vaccines are available to eligible children at no cost. We commit to participate by aligning with the LSCCEP in the following ways: (1) Promoting vaccinations through closely aligned regional campaigns to reach a wider audience. (2) Providing access to HPV vaccine through HHD safety net clinics. (3) Engaging and supporting our partner organizations and Vaccines for Children providers to promote HPV vaccinations, educational resources and referrals for treatment options.

Professional Associations

Teaching Hospitals of Texas (THOT) endorses the goals of the LSCCEP. THOT is the principal voice and advocate for health systems that teach the next generation of health professionals and who are united in their commitment to support policies and funding that will ensure healthcare access to all Texans. Aligned with its mission, THOT is committed to its role as a convener and facilitator of sharing best practices among its 18 member health systems, which serve patients from each of Texas’ 254 counties. THOT is committed to improving access to care, across the three pillars for elimination, for all in our communities, with a special focus on vulnerable populations. Accordingly, THOT commits to sharing Plan resources within its network and facilitating additional engagement opportunities for member health systems to advance cervical cancer elimination efforts.

The Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC) is committed to supporting the LSCCEP by continuing to assist community health centers with their delivery of high-quality cervical cancer prevention services. As the federally-designated primary care association for Texas, TACHC is committed to advancing access to quality health care in Texas by supporting and advocating for community health centers. TACHC empowers its members-- which include 81 community health centers throughout the state-- to deliver high-quality, comprehensive primary care by addressing the full range of health center needs, enabling them to focus on providing exceptional patient care, including cervical cancer screening and primary prevention.

The Texas Public Health Association (TPHA) is grateful for the opportunity to support the LSCCEP in their goal to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer by over a decade, reducing the number of individuals who suffer from this devastating diagnosis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2023, there were 1,408 new cases reported – a rate of 9.1/100,000 women exceeding the national rate of 7.5/100,000 women. In support, TPHA will run a ½ page advertisement, provided by LSCCEP, promoting the LSCCEP in each of the 2027 TPHJournals and newsletter editions. In addition, TPHA will display LSCCEP materials, developed and provided by LSCCEP staff, at the TPHA Annual Education Conference in Lubbock, TX. Info regarding the LSCCEP will be featured on the TPHA website, and a similar message promoting the plan will be disseminated in a targeted email to TPHA members.

Advocacy and Education

Healthy Futures of Texas is committed to supporting the Texas LSCCEP through our statewide health education, training and technical assistance, awareness, and advocacy efforts. Through our existing work, we promote accurate, accessible information about HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention and support educators, youth-serving professionals, families, and communities in having informed conversations about prevention. As appropriate, we will also help raise awareness of the Plan and its strategies through our statewide networks and partnerships. We support efforts to reduce barriers to prevention and ensure that communities—particularly those that have historically faced inequitable access to health information and care—have the knowledge and resources needed to make informed health decisions. Through collaboration across schools, healthcare, community, and public health partners, Healthy Futures of Texas is proud to help amplify the collective effort toward One Star, Zero Cervical Cancer in Texas.

Seema Abbasi, M.D., commits to conducting training sessions on the HPV vaccination announcement approach for residents and staff at the Pediatric Residency Program at Driscoll Children’s Hospital (6 residents) and the South Texas Health System Family Medicine Programs in RGV (30 residents) in Fall 2026.

Nadeem Zafar, M.D. Professor in the Department of Medical Education at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) School of Medicine, enthusiastically supports the LSCCEP. As Founder and Director of the HPV Student Ambassador Program (HSAM), Dr. Zafar has worked to address cervical cancer gaps through a peer-education model that trains healthcare students and professionals, including Promotora, to deliver culturally and linguistically appropriate HPV education across our four-county service area. This work has reinforced that barriers to HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening in the RGV are barriers of access, trust, workforce capacity, and sustained community engagement. Dr. Zafar wholeheartedly endorses the goals of the Plan and offers continued collaboration, and that of the HSAM program, in service of this shared mission.

Desert Mountain AHEC supports the overall goal of the LSCCEP to improve the health and well-being of Texans and would be willing to share informational materials about the Plan, as appropriate, at our schools and healthcare career fairs. AHEC’s primary mission is health workforce development, with an emphasis on introducing students to healthcare professions and encouraging them to pursue careers that serve the healthcare needs of Texas communities. As part of this mission, West Texas AHEC provides the H.O.T. JOBS Book, a healthcare career exploration resource that provides students with information on healthcare careers, brief career descriptions, educational pathways, universities where programs are offered, and potential starting and experienced-level compensation. The H.O.T. JOBS Book is strictly a healthcare career resource and does not provide clinical, medical, or disease-specific information. AHEC’s commitment is limited to continuing to provide students with healthcare career exploration opportunities and resources within our established mission and scope.

The Immunization Partnership (TIP) is committed to advancing evidence-based policies that increase access to HPV vaccination, prevent cervical cancer, and address disparities affecting underserved communities across Texas. TIP will advance policies that reduce barriers to HPV vaccines and strengthen public health infrastructure to ensure those who are most vulnerable to cervical cancer are protected from needless suffering. TIP also remains committed to supporting education programs that equip individuals, families, and communities with clear, accurate, and evidence-based information about HPV vaccination and its role in preventing cervical cancer. TIP will advance HPV vaccine education and cervical cancer prevention efforts across Texas, with a focus on young adults, including teen moms, and communities. Through educational tools such as HPV and pregnancy comics, fact sheets, and HPV education cards, TIP will help Texans better understand HPV and take steps to reduce their risk of cervical cancer.

Immunize San Antonio (IZSA) enthusiastically supports the strategies and goals of the LSCCEP. IZSA promotes immunization across the life span through increased collaboration, education, timely immunizations, and access for all people with focus on hard to reach and high-risk population of all ages. With the opportunity for increased HPV vaccination to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer in Texas, IZSA commits to sharing the LSCCEP with our networks and to continue to emphasize HPV vaccination in our communities.

Mid Rio Grande Border AHEC proudly endorses the LSCCEP to advance the elimination of cervical cancer across Texas. Over the years, AHEC has advanced cervical cancer prevention across the region by expanding community education on HPV vaccination, increasing awareness of recommended cervical cancer screening guidelines, and strengthening connections to clinics that provide Pap tests and follow up care. Through partnerships with schools, healthcare systems, and public health agencies, AHEC delivers culturally responsive outreach, trains health professionals on evidence based prevention strategies, and supports navigation services that help women access timely treatment for cervical pre cancer. Over 14,000 individuals receive education and access to services annually. By integrating cervical cancer prevention into youth programs, community events, and workforce development initiatives, AHEC continues to reduce barriers, empower families with accurate information, and promote early detection. An Annual AHEC Cervical Awareness Proclamation is issued each January, followed by month-long awareness activities.

South Central Area Health Education Center (AHEC) is committed to supporting the LSCCEP and advancing cervical cancer prevention across our 12-county South Central Texas catchment area. South Central AHEC has already been integrating HPV education and awareness into our community health worker (CHW) training curriculum and community-facing programming. Building on this foundation, we will expand HPV and cervical cancer content within our CHW training pipeline and deepen outreach in underserved rural and urban communities where access to preventive care remains limited. Working alongside regional partners and community-based organizations, we will contribute to measuring and raising awareness through continued education activities across our region. South Central AHEC looks forward to collaborating with partners across Texas to reduce the burden of cervical cancer.

Texas AHEC East (TAE) – Piney Woods Region (PW) proudly endorses the LSCCEP (CCEP). We commit to launching a certified DSHS CHW continuing education initiative on cervical cancer elimination and HPV awareness beginning in 2026. This Texas DSHS CHW Program–approved training will be developed in partnership with TAE – Coastal Region to strengthen HPV curriculum design and support a combined 25 county reach. TAE PW anticipates training 100–300 CHWs by the end of 2027, expanding statewide capacity to deliver accurate HPV education, improve screening access, and reduce cervical cancer disparities. We welcome collaboration with partners across Texas to amplify impact and broaden engagement. Additionally, TAE-PW commits to sharing the Lone Star CCEP to increase access to high quality cervical cancer prevention resources and support unified statewide action toward cervical cancer elimination.

Community-Based Organizations and Coalitions

The Immunization Coalition of Greater Houston (ICOGH) is pleased to endorse the LSCCEP and its vision of eliminating cervical cancer in Texas. ICOGH is committed to supporting cervical cancer prevention through education, collaboration, and promotion of HPV vaccination across the 9-county Greater Houston region. In alignment with the Plan, ICOGH will share the LSCCEP and related resources with our coalition members and community partners and continue creating opportunities to increase awareness of HPV vaccination as an important tool for cancer prevention. As a coalition bringing together public health, healthcare, community-based organizations, and other immunization partners, we are proud to support this statewide effort and help amplify its goals throughout our network.

YWCA San Antonio, which exists to eliminate racism and empower women by removing barriers for women to break the cycle of poverty and thrive, supports the Texas Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan as a community-based organization committed to reducing health disparities for communities across San Antonio and Texas. YWCA San Antonio will align its community outreach, cancer screening programs, community health worker education, and internal staff training to the plan to contribute to the goal of ending cervical cancer. We will continue to expand our cervical cancer screenings and education efforts, especially with those who experience disparities related to lack of access to care, systemic racism, income, and other barriers.

On behalf of the Collaborative Action Board (CAB) of the Rio Grande Valley, we write to endorse the strategies outlined in the LSCCEP (CCEP) and to support efforts to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer by over a decade. This plan will prevent the high cost of cervical cancer, both in terms of suffering and economic impact. We strongly support Texas leading as one of the first states to implement such a bold plan! In Texas, and especially in our South Texas border region, we experience high rates of cervical cancer, which disproportionately impacts families in our community. As you know, cervical cancer can be prevented with evidence-based strategies laid out clearly in the Lone Star CCEP, and we as a coalition are committed to implementing, sharing, connecting and amplifying these proposed strategies.

National, Statewide, and Private Sector Organizations

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is dedicated to our mission to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, and to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Through partnerships with healthcare systems, community organizations, and public health agencies, we work to reduce the burden of cancer and advance equitable access to prevention and early detection services. As part of that commitment, ACS supports efforts to eliminate cervical cancer through increasing HPV vaccination, expanding access to evidence-based screening, and ensuring timely follow-up and treatment for all individuals. We are proud to support state, regional, and local efforts that move us closer to a future where cervical cancer is eliminated as a public health problem.

The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) proudly supports the Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan (LSCCEP). CPRIT is the largest state funder of cancer prevention and research in the nation. By supporting evidence-based HPV vaccination initiatives, cervical cancer screening programs, patient navigation, community outreach, implementation science, and innovative research, CPRIT helps translate proven interventions into measurable public health impact. Through CPRIT-supported prevention efforts, more than 362,780 HPV vaccinations have already been delivered to Texans, and CPRIT-funded programs have provided 559,505 cervical cancer screenings, including timely diagnostic and follow-up care. As Texas implements the LSCCEP, CPRIT's continued leadership, funding, and commitment to innovation will be instrumental in increasing HPV vaccination coverage, improving access to cervical cancer screening and follow-up care, and achieving a future where cervical cancer is eliminated as a public health threat for all Texans.

As Chair of the Cancer Alliance of Texas (CAT), I, Sharyn Malatok, am proud to endorse the Texas Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan (2027–2032), led by CAT’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Workgroup. The Plan aligns closely with CAT’s mission to engage organizations, agencies, institutions, and individuals to work collaboratively to reduce the impact of cancer in Texas and promote the Texas Cancer Plan. The Elimination Plan provides a statewide framework for collaboration across sectors to increase HPV vaccination, expand cervical cancer screening and early detection, and improve timely access to diagnosis and treatment. These priorities align with the Texas Cancer Plan and reflect CAT’s commitment to coordinated evidence-based cancer prevention and control. The Texas Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan is an important opportunity to bring Texas partners together, build on existing efforts, address barriers to prevention and care, and advance progress toward cervical cancer elimination.

Cervivor commits to supporting Texas and other states as they implement their cervical cancer elimination plans by supporting and advocating for those affected by cervical cancer and bringing public attention to state elimination plans. Cervivor is a global community of patient advocates who inspire and empower those affected by cervical cancer by educating and motivating them to use their voices for creating awareness to end stigma, influence decision and change, and end cervical cancer. To date, Cervivor has trained over 250 cervical cancer patients and survivors in impactful storytelling and advocacy through Cervivor School. Additionally, a wealth of public-facing educational resources are available via CervivorTV (on YouTube) and Cervivor.org.

Every woman in Texas deserves access to healthcare that can help prevent cervical cancer — no matter where she lives, what she earns, or whether she can easily get to a clinic. Abbott is proud to support the LSCCEP and help make that a reality. As a member of the ACS National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer, we're committed to expanding access to high-quality HPV screening to all communities, including rural areas, where barriers are often greatest. That includes self-collection, which lets women collect their own sample in the privacy of a clinic visit — a less invasive option that could encourage more women to get screened. By pairing high-performance testing with self-collection, we can help more Texans get screened earlier. We look forward to working with our partners in Texas to turn that vision into more lives saved, because no one should face a preventable cancer because care was out of reach.

Waters is committed to supporting Texas and other states as they develop and implement cervical cancer elimination strategies by helping expand access to high-quality screening and diagnostic solutions and by collaborating with public health, clinical, laboratory, and advocacy stakeholders. As a health sciences company, Waters brings scientific expertise, innovative technologies, and a commitment to laboratory excellence to help strengthen the infrastructure needed for effective cervical cancer prevention, screening, and diagnosis. Waters recognizes that eliminating cervical cancer requires coordinated action across the healthcare continuum—from equitable access to screening and timely, accurate testing to appropriate follow-up and effective treatment. Through partnership, innovation, and advocacy for policies that promote access to high-quality diagnostics, Waters seeks to help Texas and other states translate cervical cancer elimination goals into measurable improvements in patient outcomes, health equity, and population health.

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