Resources

Past Presentation

Syphilis | March 17, 2025

Date of Presentation: March 20, 2025

Type: Past Presentation  

Audience: Clinical  Community  

Program: Community Health Representative (CHR)  

In this series of presentations Tonisha Alkire, CHR Director at Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, shares their programs robust contract tracing and follow up program for CHR centered Syphilis screening and connection to treatment. Jessica Leston, Owner/Partner of The Raven Collective, provides an overview of syphilis, focusing on its impact, prevention, and treatment, particularly in Indigenous communities. Syphilis is a curable STI, but untreated cases can lead to severe complications, including congenital syphilis, which can cause lifelong disabilities or infant death. The presentation emphasizes the disproportionate rates of syphilis among Native American (AI/AN) and Black communities, with 1 in 42 AI/AN live births in South Dakota affected by CS. Key stages of syphilis—primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary—are outlined, along with the importance of early testing and antibiotic treatment. Rapid point-of-care testing is available, and CHRs play a vital role in linking patients to care and reducing stigma. The presentation also addresses the stigma surrounding sexual health and substance use, which often prevents individuals from seeking care.

Resources Provided:

Date added: April 9, 2025