Every year, syphilis in pregnancy causes more than 390,000 stillbirths, newborn deaths, premature births, and lifelong disabilities.1 Most of that loss is preventable, and most of these women are already in an antenatal clinic, being tested for HIV. What’s missing is a syphilis test and treatment at that same visit.
At UNGA 81, our CEO Danielle Bayer sat down with Devex’s Kate Warren at Devex Impact House to talk about closing that gap.
In the September 23 conversation, part of the “From Aid to Agency” track, Danielle covered:
- Why the test is the easy part. Seven years into our Syphilis-Free Start work, we’ve learned that impact lives in the nuts and bolts: kits on the shelf, trained nurses, and data that flags gaps early.
- Why we plan our own exit. Success is when health ministries and clinic nurses call this “our program,” and keep running it without us.
- Why it matters to a mother. Some women learn only in their fifth pregnancy that syphilis is easy to treat, and that they can be treated that same day.
Most of all, Danielle talked about partnership. Reaching the majority of the world’s congenital syphilis burden will take more than any one organization. That’s why we’ve worked from the start as part of a growing global coalition of governments, multilaterals, funders, and implementing partners.
“Our most impactful programs are going to be those that extend beyond us,” Danielle said.
