FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 8, 2019

CONTACT: Cory Combs | combs@sunshinesachs.com | 202-280-2398

Washington, D.C. – The Partnership to End the HIV, STD, and Hepatitis Epidemics, five of the nation’s leading organizations focused on ending the HIV, STD, and hepatitis epidemics in the United States – AIDS United, NASTAD, the National Coalition of STD Directors, NMAC, and The AIDS Institute – today issued the following statement in response to the release of the 2018 STD Surveillance report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

“Once again, STDs are at crisis levels in the United States, reaching all-time highs for the fifth year in a row. As cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia continue their steep climb, federal, state, and local programs and health departments continue to be underfunded and overwhelmed by these preventable epidemics. In recent years, more than half of local STD programs have had their budgets cut, destabilizing an already tenuous network and resulting in clinic closures, staff cuts, and more and more people falling through the cracks. 

We cannot end the HIV epidemic on the back of an exploding STD epidemic, nor can we accept the fact that more and more babies are dying in this country as a result of congenital syphilis, an easily treated and highly preventable condition.

Our elected officials must act. That’s why we’re calling on Congress to increase funding for CDC’s STD prevention services by $70 million so that we may begin to turn the tide. Inaction stands in the way of our progress against HIV, and will result in continued loss of life. This is a reality that can no longer go unchallenged.”