| Sexually
Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and HIV: Making the Connection is
the topic of February s Hartford HIV Forum. Heidi Jenkins, STD
Control Program Director at the Department of Public Health,
will discuss common STDs, particularly those that increase the
risk of transmitting or acquiring HIV. Her talk and slide presentation
will address the signs and symptoms of infection as well as
screening, treatment and preventative measures. She will be
speaking on Tuesday, February 11 at noon at the Living Center,
1841 Broad Street. The event is free; lunch will be provided
and advance registration is required.
By attending the Hartford event, interested members of the
public and health care providers will also learn about risk
factors for STDs, consequences of infection, and centers where
those at risk can get free testing.
There is a lot of misinformation out there about STDs and
it s important that people understand what behaviors put them
at risk and how they can prevent infection, said Jenkins.
According to Jenkins, the incidence of STDs is rising in
Connecticut. Over the past year, chlamydia increased more
than 10%, gonorrhea rose slightly, and the number of reported
syphilis cases increased dramatically among men having sex
with men, she noted.
This is the first lecture in the Spring 2003 series of forums
organized by The Institute for Community Research and the
Connecticut AIDS Education and Training Center. The Hartford
HIV Forum meets from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. on the second
Tuesday of each month. The goal of the forums is to give the
local community the most up-to-date information on current
topics in AIDS prevention, treatment, research and care. To
register for the forum, call the The Institute for Community
Research at 860-278-2044. Signing for the hearing impaired
and Spanish interpretation are available with a minimum of
ten days advance notice. For more information about the series,
contact Peg Weeks at The Institute for Community Research
at 860-278-2044 x229.
|
