NCSD Applauds New $4 Million HHS Initiative to Expand Syphilis Testing and Treatment in STI Programs  

Funding announced today expands access to syphilis rapid tests and treatment 

For Immediate Release: August 12, 2026
Contact: Elizabeth Finley, [email protected], 919-749-7309  

Washington, D.C. — On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a $4 million initiative to expand rapid syphilis testing and treatment through health department STI programs. The initiative, which launched July 31, has already provided funds to NCSD members, the recipients of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Strengthening STD Prevention and Control for Health Departments (STD PCHD) funding. Last year, the CDC reported that congenital syphilis numbers had climbed to a record high for a 12th straight year. Elizabeth Finley, Interim Executive Director of the National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), issued the following statement: 

“Today’s announcement of HHS’s $4 million investment in syphilis testing and treatment is both a cause to celebrate and a call to action. This new initiative is the direct result of a coordinated effort from Secretary Kennedy, the CDC’s Division of STD Prevention and many others within CDC and HHS, along with expert partners, to find the most effective and efficient way to make an impact on the syphilis crisis devastating mothers and babies.”  

“This new syphilis testing and treatment initiative is already underway, and health department STI Programs are hard at work testing vulnerable pregnant women for syphilis and providing treatment, when needed, to prevent the dire consequences of infection. By providing this funding directly to the highly effective Strengthening STD Prevention and Control for Health Departments (STD PCHD) grantees, HHS has found a way to ensure every state can reach mothers and babies in the smartest ways possible. The initiative is especially important as the STI programs work to find creative solutions to navigate a severe shortage of Bicillin L-A, the only treatment for pregnant women with syphilis.”  

“We commend Secretary Kennedy for working with the nation’s STI leaders to prioritize protecting mothers and babies from syphilis, and we encourage HHS to continue this commitment to so the nation’s STI Programs can keep protecting America’s mothers and babies.”  

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