In response to dramatic increase in congenital syphilis infections nationwide and severe shortage of the most effective treatment medication, Bicillin L-A, AHF relaunches groundbreaking syphilis awareness campaign

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has updated and relaunched a groundbreaking billboard and awareness campaign, “Syphilis Can be Fatal to Your Baby,” warning of the dangers of congenital syphilis which can be fatal to babies if the infection goes undiagnosed and untreated in mothers.

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The campaign artwork features an illustration of a visibly pregnant person with the headline, “Syphilis Can be Fatal to Your Baby,” driving to the website URL “FreeSTDCheck.org.” AHF’s congenital syphilis campaign consists of billboards, posters, transit shelters, 2-sheets, buses, bus benches, and street kiosks and began posting nationwide last week. The campaign will run for three months in most markets and is appearing in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, and Nevada. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The campaign artwork features an illustration of a visibly pregnant person with the headline, “Syphilis Can be Fatal to Your Baby,” driving to the website URL “FreeSTDCheck.org.” AHF’s congenital syphilis campaign consists of billboards, posters, transit shelters, 2-sheets, buses, bus benches, and street kiosks and began posting nationwide last week. The campaign will run for three months in most markets and is appearing in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, and Nevada.

AHF launched the national syphilis awareness campaign in light of a dramatic increase in congenital syphilis cases over the past year and a simultaneous shortage of the most effective treatment medication for the infection (Bicillin L-A).

According to The Guardian, “Record-high rates of syphilis and an accompanying shortage of the preferred antibiotic to treat the disease will make it one of the most pressing public health concerns in 2024.” The news organization also noted the “US faces (a) ‘tragic’ rise in syphilis cases with life-saving drug in short supply” and that the “Incidence of serious sexually transmitted disease (is) at 27-year high and demand for preferred antibiotic is straining manufacture.”

AHF offers free sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment at 36 Wellness Centers in 14 states and Washington, DC. Locations are searchable online at FreeSTDCheck.org.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world’s largest HIV/AIDS healthcare organization, provides cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to more than 1.8 million individuals across 45 countries, including the U.S. and in Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region, and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, visit us online at AIDShealth.org, find us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and subscribe to our AHFter Hours podcast.

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AHF offers free sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment at 36 Wellness Centers in 14 states and Washington, DC. Locations are searchable online at FreeSTDCheck.org.