Purpose
This Dear Colleague Letter highlights the HHS Sexually Transmitted Infections Federal Implementation Plan, 2021-2025.
What you need to know
June 8, 2023
Dear Colleagues,
We are pleased to share HHS' Sexually Transmitted Infections Federal Implementation Plan, 2021-2025, which was released today to accompany the Sexually Transmitted Infections National Strategic Plan for the United States: 2021-2025.
Developed by an Implementation Working Group – of which we were pleased to be a part – this document outlines the commitments of federal agencies toward programs, polices, research, and other activities that will help advance the National Strategic Plan.
As outlined in the Implementation Plan, our Division will continue to play an important role in executing the National Strategic Plan. We have been charged with tall orders around the STI Plan's five high-level goals:
- Prevent new STIs.
- Improve the health of people by reducing adverse (harmful) outcomes of STIs.
- Accelerate progress in STI research, technology, and innovation.
- Reduce STI-related health disparities and health inequities.
- Achieve integrated, coordinated efforts that address the STI epidemic.
As our committed partners in prevention, you know the STI Plan is providing a road map for our nation as it addresses continued concerning increases in STIs across the country. The Implementation Plan gives us the charge we need to coordinate the limited federal STI prevention resources we have in our country. However, federal action will not be sufficient in and of itself to achieve the ambitious goals of the National Strategic Plan. Achieving those goals will require more than the federal government's work; we need to band together to truly realize the comprehensive, whole-of-nation approach to preventing STIs for which the Plan calls. Because they can bring to the table unique experience, resources, and perspectives, non-federal partners play an important role. This can include governments at the local, state, and tribal levels, healthcare providers and systems, community- and faith-based organizations, the private sector, and people who have personally experienced STIs.
The Implementation Plan encourages partners from all sectors to leverage the document to engage with others and to build a non-federal roadmap for executing the Strategic Plan. We know you will bring your resources to bear in the journey toward preventing STIs in the US and we're excited to serve alongside you.
We are honored to be by your side along the way.
Best regards,
Leandro Mena, MD, MPH, FIDSA
Director
Division of STD Prevention
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention