In a recent Dear Colleague letter, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the transition from STD Awareness Month to STD Awareness Week, which will be held April 12-18, 2020. The goal of the observance is still to raise awareness about what STDs are; how they impact our lives; and why prevention, testing, and treatment are so important. But, STD Awareness Week is about more than awareness: it’s also about action.
To help public health and healthcare professionals take action during STD Awareness Week 2020, the CDC launched a digital toolkit with revamped resources for four STD campaigns:
- Get Yourself Tested – Encourages young people to get tested
- Talk. Test. Treat. – Encourages individuals and healthcare providers to take 3 simple actions: talk, test, treat
- Syphilis Strikes Back – Highlights the threat of syphilis among gay and bisexual men, pregnant women, and newborn babies
- Treat Me Right – Highlights the importance of strong patient-provider relationships
The toolkit outlines each campaign’s theme and target audiences, and the corresponding materials available. It also includes tips on how to use the campaigns to enhance any planned activities, things to consider during implementation, and some helpful resources.
