By Elana Gordon
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-984012.mp3
KANSAS CITY, Ks. – The University of Kansas has launched a new center, aimed at addressing the specific health needs of the state's fastest growing population. KCUR's Elana Gordon reports.
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Five years ago, KU Med Center had no programs focused on Latino health.
That's a problem, according to the school's Dean, Barbara Atkinson, who says tackling health disparities is one of KU's main priorities.
"We can really make a difference in helping the underserved Latino community," says Dean Atkinson. "They have a 15 year less lifespan than other populations, and it's really something that's inexcusable. We really have to do something about the major diseases that they get, to help get them to the same level as the rest of our population."
Paula Cupertino is director of the new Juntos Center for Advancing Latino Health (juntos means together in Spanish). Cupertino says KU has developed ten or so Latino health initiatives since she came on board five years ago, ranging from diabetes education to cancer prevention. But she says having an actual center focused on Latino health needs and on expanding these prevention initiatives is essential.
"If you look at the map of Kansas and all the counties, there are less than 10 counties that haven't experienced a significant growth of Latinos," says Cupertino.
Cupertino says the population increase in the state - more than 50 percent over the last decade - is mainly made up of Latino immigrants who recently came to the U.S. and who may have greater difficulties getting health care, whether that's because of language barriers or poverty.
Arturo Ponce is with United Methodist Mexican-American Ministries, which operates health clinics throughout Western Kansas. Ponce says he's seen a huge surge in the region's Latino community and is excited about working with KU's new center.
"My people, my community, there's a high need with health issues," says Ponce. "If we have this center, basically, we know where we can go for resources for doctors, for treatment, for any type of thing."
Cupertino says the center, based at KU Med's main campus in Kansas City, will work closely with Latino communities across the state. She and others are already setting up a cancer prevention program - based on one they developed in Wyandotte County - in Garden City, Dodge City, and Liberal.
The center did not receive any major grants or donations to get started, but it did acquire a new office space through the med center.
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