Published online:
26 June 2019
Summary
Syphilis has been increasing in New Zealand every year since 2012. We are now also seeing cases of congenital syphilis in New Zealand - a condition that was very rare previously. The Ministry has developed a national syphilis action plan (the action plan) to guide a systematic and coordinated health sector response to stop the increase in syphilis.
The action plan was developed in consultation with the wider sexual health community and takes a comprehensive approach to addressing the increase in syphilis, focussing on both prevention and treatment. Four priority areas have been identified:
- prevention and health promotion
- testing and management
- antenatal care
- surveillance and monitoring.
Each priority area has a number of actions to be delivered at either a national or regional level within a short-, medium- or long-term timeframe.