The National Coalition of STD Directors is thrilled to see the Administration’s new initiative to End the HIV Epidemic (EtHE) quickly taking shape. We believe that, with adequate resources, STD programs will play an important role in reducing new infections by 90 percent in ten years. The syndemic nature of HIV and STDs makes STD programs and providers essential partners in the EtHE plan. STD programs and clinics already serve populations at high risk for HIV infection and play a significant role in HIV testing and linkage to care. Building on existing infrastructure at the national, state, and local levels, STD programs will be of enormous value to the Administration’s efforts to end the epidemic.

It is NCSD’s position that the STD field could be mobilized and leveraged to support this initiative in innovative ways including: expanding HIV counseling, testing, and linkage to care as well as PrEP services in STD clinics and other sites providing STD clinical services, expanding and improve the DIS workforce for HIV testing and linkage to care, assuring condom availability and educational outreach, supporting jurisdiction’s efforts to improve data sharing across STD and HIV surveillance systems.

Read the full letter here.