April 25, 2025
Media Contact: Kathy Lamm, (757) 236-0529
Kathy.Lamm@vdh.virginia.gov
Hampton Roads Health Systems and Public Health Launch Coordinated Effort to Stop Syphilis
Public awareness campaign launches on Tuesday, April 29, at Webb Center on ODU campus
HAMPTON ROADS, Va. – In a united front against a growing public health concern, all major health care systems in the Hampton Roads region have joined forces with public health officials to launch powerful regional “Stop Syphilis” public awareness campaign.
Members of the media are invited to a pre-event news conference on Tuesday, April 29, at 9:00 AM. Dr. Susan Girois, Health Director for the Norfolk Department of Public Health, will be available for questions. Please RSVP to Kathy Lamm at Kathy.lamm@vdh.virginia.gov or by phone at 757-236-0529.
The urgency of this initiative stems from the concerning rise in syphilis cases, particularly affecting newborns. Last year alone, 36 babies in Virginia were born with syphilis, with half of those cases in the Eastern Region. Health officials emphasize that even one case is unacceptable given the readily available cure.
To address this critical issue, the Eastern Region Stop Syphilis Public Awareness Campaign will officially launch with a public event on Tuesday, April 29, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at the Webb Center on the Old Dominion University (ODU) campus.
The primary goal of this campaign is to educate the public about the alarming prevalence of syphilis in Hampton Roads and empower individuals with a vital message: Get tested. Get treated. Stop syphilis.
“Every baby born with syphilis is a preventable tragedy,” stated Dr. Susan Girois, Director of the Norfolk Department of Public Health. “Our collective goal is to significantly reduce new syphilis infections across our region and ultimately eliminate congenital syphilis entirely.”
The Regional Stop Syphilis Initiative represents a robust collaboration among the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), area hospitals, universities, and community partners. Over the past year, this collaborative initiative has utilized a multi-faceted approach to make significant strides by streamlining clinical and referral processes, standardizing testing procedures, and clarifying the roles of healthcare providers and the VDH. These efforts have already led to improvements in testing and treatment accessibility.
“Collaboration is absolutely essential to achieve our goal,” added Dr. Girois. “We deeply appreciate our partnership with the hospitals, universities, and the broader community in tackling this critical public health challenge. By working together, we can effectively raise awareness, provide crucial resources and ensure that everyone has access to the necessary testing and treatment to safeguard the health of our region.”
The upcoming public awareness campaign marks a crucial next step in this collaborative effort. The launch event on April 29 is free and open to the public, but tickets are required and are still available at Eastern Virginia Syphilis Taskforce Resources – Norfolk Health Department.
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