WHO launches new operational handbook to enhance global STI response

The World Health Organization (WHO) has just released its first-ever consolidated operational handbook on sexually transmitted infections, aimed at assisting countries in urgently enhancing the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) within their health systems.

The handbook provides program managers, policymakers, clinicians, community organizations, and partners with practical guidance that converts WHO's recommendations on STIs into actionable strategies. It assists countries in implementing, integrating, and maintaining high-quality STI services within the frameworks of primary health care and universal health coverage.

With over 1 million new curable STIs acquired daily around the world, and syphilis cases climbing to an estimated 8 million globally in 2022, including approximately 700,000 cases of congenital syphilis, the handbook addresses an increasing demand for clear and actionable guidance at the national level.

"For the first time, countries have a single operational reference that consolidates all WHO guidance on STI prevention and care. This handbook transforms years of normative work into practical tools that can be adapted to any context, aiding in bridging the gap between what we know and what we implement,” stated Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Department for HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and STIs.

The operational handbook presents several important features.

STIs remain among the most common infections worldwide, yet services continue to fall short for the people who need them most. This handbook provides countries with a clear path to strengthen STI services within primary health care, ensuring that prevention, diagnosis, and treatment reach all populations equitably. This approach allows the STI response to transition from fragmented efforts to integrated, people-centered services.