Local physicians are invited to attend a conference this week for health care providers who treat or work with HIV/AIDS patients, according to a release from Delegate Donna Christian-Christensen.
The conference, sponsored by the Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA), a division of Health and Human Services, came under fire recently by ACT UP/DC, a gay activist group. A spokesperson for ACT/UP said the money being used for the conference came from Ryan White CARE funds, which are earmarked, in part, for direct services to poor people.
Christensen said earlier this week, in defense of having the conference in the V.I., "The best way for us to get attention because we don't have a vote is by having people come here and put a face on the issues."
In her release Thursday she said "I urge my medical colleagues in the territory to take advantage of this conference and the new information it provides so that we can, in turn, be at the forefront of combating the disease in the territory."
The conference is free to local physicians.
Christensen couldn't say earlier in the week if any local care providers would be attending.
The conference will kick off at 6 p.m. Thursday at Marriot Frenchman's Reef with a reception followed at 8:15 p.m. by the keynote address, a review of new treatment data.
On Friday and Saturday a variety of workshops will be held starting at 9 a.m. through 3 p.m.
The agenda is targeted at getting new data and treatment information out to personnel from small agencies from all over the United States.
For details of the controversy surrounding holding the conference in the V.I. click here.
