Intern, Syphilis-Free Start

About Syphilis Free Start

One of Evidence Action’s newest initiatives is the Syphilis-Free Start Program in which we partner with Ministries of Health to increase syphilis screening and treatment among pregnant women to prevent mother-to-child transmission of syphilis. Without effective and timely treatment, syphilis infections in pregnancy carry a significant risk of stillbirth, neonatal death, and cognitive and physical disability. Across the globe, syphilis infection in pregnancy leads to over 200,000 stillbirths and neonatal deaths - more than is attributed to mother-to-child transmission of HIV - and over 100,000 instances of disability in newborns. Our aim is to close syphilis screening gaps via introduction of HIV/syphilis dual testing and to close treatment gaps by implementing strategies to address context-specific treatment barriers for women who test positive for syphilis.

We launched our maternal syphilis program in Liberia in 2020,...