This briefing is part of NCSD’s broader advocacy on behalf of our member health departments for additional resources for STD prevention and STD programs.  Held at during National STD Awareness Month, this event highlighted both the rising STD rates, particulalry syphilis, as well as the fraying  public health infrastructure in our country.   Last year, for the first time in nearly a decade, rates of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia all increased concurrently, some dramatically so.  Last year was the third year in a row of double digit increases of primary and secondary syphilis, and between 2012 and 2014, rates of congenital syphilis increased by 38 percent.  At the same time, state and local STD programs across the country, which are on the front lines responding to these epidemics, have been squeezed by funding reductions at all levels of government which are hampering their ability to respond these growing trends.

This event closed by discussing NCSD’s funding request for federal funding for fiscal year 2017 STD Prevention.  In fiscal year 2017 funding,  NCSD is requesting an urgent funding increase of $8.1 million to the Division of STD Prevention to ensure those on the front lines of STD prevention have funding to respond to the rising rates of  all STDs, particularly syphilis, and prepare for other foreseen outbreaks.  Click here for additional information.

We were pleased to be joined at this event by Gail Bolan, MD, Director at the Division of STD Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Travis A. Gayles, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration, District of Columbia Department of Health.  Thank you, Dr. Bolan and Dr. Gayles!

Also, thank you to our honorary cohosts for this event: Senator Richard Blumenthal, and Congressman Michael M. Honda, as well as our cosponsoring organizations:

The AIDS Institute; American Sexual Health Association; American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association; Association of Public Health Laboratories; Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO);  Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs; Georgia AIDS Coalition; NASTAD (National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors); National Association of County and City Health Officials; Treatment Action Group (TAG).

Please see above for the materials from this briefing.

Audio recording of the full briefing

Gail Bolan, MD
Presentation Materials 
Director, Division of STD Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Travis A. Gayles, MD, PhD
Presentation Materials 
Chief Medical Officer, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and TB Administration
District of Columbia Department of Health

William A. Smith
Presentation Materials 
Executive Director
National Coalition of STD Directors