Health Department to Host STD/HIV Conference

Healthcare providers and educators can learn more about STD and HIV trends, resources and treatment guidelines at one of two conferences that the Department of Health’s STD/HIV/TB Program will co-sponsor next week.

The daylong conference will be held territorywide beginning Tuesday, February 23, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the VI Cardiac Center at the Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix and from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2010, at the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute at the Schneider Regional Medical Center on St. Thomas.

Presentations, during the morning session, will focus on “HIV and Primary Care” and “Adolescents and Counseling”. The target groups for that session are nurses, to include those that are school-based, counselors, teachers, and dental staff.

The afternoon session will focus on Sexual Health Issues in the Virgin Islands with discussions centering on epidemiology and trends of STDS and HIV in the Virgin Islands; Department of Health resources; success stories from local community providers and an overview of the 2006 STD CDC Treatment Guidelines. The target group for this session includes medical doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and dental hygienists.

Attendance is free and CME and CNE credits will be provided at no cost. For more information email dcestart@uvi.edu or call Rita Olans, NP at (340) 773-1311, ex1 4142.

Commissioner Sheen said that the STD/HIV/TB clinics will be closed territorywide on February 23 and 25, 2010, when the conferences will be held and regrets any inconvenience to clients.

Provisions have been made for clients to seek emergency room care as necessary.

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