Groups dedicated to spreading knowledge about AIDS throughout the state are holding a workshop that will provide health providers with information about HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

The UAB Alabama AIDS Education & Training Center, Alabama Department of Public Health and Minority AIDS Initiative of Emory University is hosting a free HIV/STI Workshop Thursday, Feb. 6, at the Dallas County Health Department from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Education is the most important thing,” Minority AIDS Initiative program consultant Reashanda White said. “If a person is aware that they are at risk for HIV, they have the information to talk to their providers, health providers, their commission and their nurse about ways that they need to get screened to make sure that they are not affected.”

The workshop will provide physicians, registered nurses, medical case managers, social workers linkage coordinators and other licensed health professionals with essential information including how to receive sexual history from patients, facts about sexually transmitted infections, HIV in Alabama, a disease intervention specialist’s role in STIs and HIV, the Affordable Care Act portion addressing HIV and more.

Participating nurses and social workers will be awarded 4.25 contact hours by event co-sponsors Alabama Educational Technology Conference, which are approved by the Alabama State Nurses’ Association and accredited as an approver of continuing education in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing on Accreditation, Alabama Board of Nursing and the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners.

Some licensed and health care professionals may be eligible for driving mileage reimbursement after participating in the entire workshop if total round-trip travel is 100 miles or more.

Contact Minority AIDS Initiative program director Johnetta Holcombe at 404-712-2579 or jholcom.emory.edu for information about eligibility and a travel assistance application.

For more information about registration, contact Minority AIDS initiative program director White at (205) 419-7210 or Alabama Department of Public HIV Coordinator Janice Robbins at 877-2895.