Resilience of STI service delivery in community-based organizations during the 2024 armed conflict: insights from Lebanon

This study explores the potential impact of war on STI services in Lebanon. Programmatic STI service data from Lebanon were analyzed, alongside a targeted review of the literature on conflict-affected settings, using public health databases covering the period 2014-2024. Evidence-based STI service packages for conflict settings remain limited. Drawing insights from the COVID-19 crisis, periods of emergencies are associated with an elevated risk of STI surges among key populations. Programmatic data from the conflict further demonstrated this increased risk, reflected in reductions in prevention and early detection activities compared with pre- and post-conflict periods. Self-care and outreach service packages could be critical in these contexts. Community-based organizations (CBOs) should adapt STI services to the wartime environment and evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions post-conflict. CBOs are encouraged to prioritize the implementation of self-care modalities for STI prevention and early detection, expand the availability of telehealth services, and deploy mobile clinics to maximize service continuity. This editorial analyzes STI service delivery within the specific context of the Lebanese war.