Kansas
African-American group plans HIV outreach effort

The Wichita, Kan.-based African-American advocacy group Sankofa Health Collective, noting that blacks make up 6% of the state's population but account for 26% of its HIV cases, recently met to discuss launching culturally specific HIV prevention and educational outreach programs, the Wichita Eagle reports. About 60 people attended the collective's meeting, held at Wichita State University, and discussed ways to encourage African-Americans to talk with family members and friends about HIV and urge them to get tested, to discourage drug use among blacks, and how to combat unhealthy sexual messages in music and movies that are popular with African-American audiences. The group hopes to launch HIV outreach efforts in the coming months.