Garden City Man Travels Southwest Kansas Fighting HIV

Determined to help prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among Latinos in southwest Kansas, Arturo Ponce travels to cantinas in Dodge City, Garden City, Ulysses, Hugoton, Satanta, and Liberal -- places he says he'd never otherwise go. "There are too many male Latinos who share old fashioned beliefs that they are macho men. It won't happen to them. AIDS only affects white male homosexuals," Ponce said. "But AIDS is growing in the Latino community because the people aren't being educated."

His weapons are condoms, bleach kits, clean syringes and pamphlets explaining the dangers of unprotected sex. Ponce distributes safe sex kits that include a card with his name and the address and phone number of United Methodist Western-American Ministries, where he works as the Latino AIDS Program Coordinator and Health Educator.

Ponce's organization works with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Western Kansas AIDS Response Effort to reach the public about STDs. According to KDHE, in 1999, there were 59 cases of AIDS reported in the 24 counties of southwest Kansas. Ponce says there currently are 34 cases of HIV in Finney County alone. "I believe the most important point is prevention. But people are still having unsafe sex and reusing syringes," he said. "So we have to present tools to prevent the spread of disease."

Often, when he's not handing out the safe sex kits, Ponce leaves them on bar counters in bowls, like peanuts. Ponce said he gets calls and drop-in visits from people who have picked up the packets. They arrive at his office wanting a confidential HIV antibody test or answers to questions. The tests and counseling are kept confidential. The anonymity has helped Ponce carry out his work with many in the community who could be at risk for HIV and other STDs. "I have counseled several of them who were worried that they might be carriers of AIDS. I know it's hard for them to come here to have the blood test done, they want confidentiality. We provide that."

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