American Social Health Association and National Cervical Cancer Coalition to Merge HPV Programs

Oct. 31, 2011 - PRLog -- Research Triangle Park, NC and Los Angeles, CA--- The American Social Health Association (ASHA) and the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC) announced today a merger between NCCC and ASHA’s HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention Resource Center. The combined programs offer a robust, comprehensive slate of education, advocacy, and support services across the continuum of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and related diseases.

ASHA launched the National HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention Resource Center (the “Resource Center”) in 2000 to address the lack of nationally available HPV and cervical cancer prevention information and resources. The Resource Center is dedicated to addressing the multiple issues and challenges associated with HPV and cervical cancer prevention in the United States.

NCCC was founded in 1996 as a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to serving women with, or at risk for, cervical cancer and HPV disease. The organization has 6,500 members around the world, and chapters across the U.S. NCCC’s sister organization, the Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer, works throughout the developing world as a platform to empower people, communities and societies to reduce the disease burden from HPV and cervical cancers.

ASHA president and CEO Lynn Barclay said “NCCC and ASHA’s Resource Center have long been partners, so this merger is a logical step. Together we can leverage our array of resources to offer even better tools and programs for health care providers and patients alike. Also, our combined resources will be a formidable means of engaging policy makers at all levels to ensure that access to life-saving cervical cancer screenings and vaccines remains a priority.”

NCCC Board Chair Alan Kaye, who along with his late wife Randi Kaye (who died from cancer in 2001) founded the organization, echoed that bringing the programs together creates a powerful voice in the world of cervical cancer prevention and support: “NCCC’s long-standing commitment to cervical cancer survivors and their families is a perfect complement to the education and support programs already in place within ASHA’s HPV Resource Center. Working with other outstanding partners and stakeholders in this field, we will continue our approach that mixes compassion and empathy with strong, proactive engagement on behalf of women’s health.” Noting that HPV is also associated with a number of other cancers -and is increasingly linked with many  head and neck tumors- Mr. Kaye adds “As evidence-based science continues to demonstrate the association between HPV and other diseases, it’s important for ASHA to respond with timely, accurate resources for professionals and the public alike. There is no doubt that HPV research will continue to evolve. ”

Mr. Kaye will join ASHA’s leadership as a member of its Board of Directors, while Ms. Barclay will continue to serve as CEO of ASHA and the combined programs of NCCC and the Resource Center. “It’s a real coup for ASHA to welcome Alan Kaye to our Board,” Ms. Barclay enthused. “His steady hand will give us a smooth transition, and I can’t think of anyone better suited to help fulfill our mission.”

For more go to http://www.ASHAstd.org and http://www.nccc-online.org/index.html.

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The American Social Health Association is a trusted, non-profit organization that has advocated on behalf of patients to help improve public health outcomes since 1914. We are America's authority for sexually transmitted infection information