‘Unacceptable in this country’: Professor Michael Kidd’s plea to GPs
Bringing more resources and attention to tackling syphilis has been one of the new Chief Medical Officer's focuses.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd has branded Australia’s congenital syphilis rates unacceptable following his decision to declare syphilis a communicable disease incident of national significance.
Between January 2023 and August this year, doctors have reported 41 cases of congenital syphilis and 18 related deaths.
In a heartfelt speech at the RACGP’s annual conference in Brisbane earlier this month, Professor Kidd said his choice to make syphilis a communicable disease of national significance was one of his first major decisions since taking over as chief medical officer in August.
The former RACGP president said it meant more resources being allocated to increasing the number of patients receiving antenatal care.
