Wichita’s PDI prevention programs get high energy from Coordinator

by Rob Howard
Associate Editor

“I took this job because it’s something that I have a passion for doing,” said Martin Sulzman, the high energy Prevention Coordinator for Wichita’s Positive Directions, Inc. (PDI) Sulzman took on his job in May 2014, and has been providing boundless energy in the group’s prevention and education efforts.

Wichita’s Positive Directions started its journey in 1991 and has grown to become one of the city’s preeminent organizations providing community, action, resources, education and support for those who have HIV infection and their loved ones. PDI also educates people about behaviors that put them at risk for HIV infection.

One of the programs Sulzman highlighted is the High V support group for persons with HIV/AIDS, which he co-facilitates. “When I went to the support group I thought that I would inspire them, but they inspired me,” he said. “I’ve been positive for 11 years, but it was inspiring to see how people who have been positive for 23-24 years are living their lives.”

High V has group members ranging from 19 to 76. So, particularly from the more senior members, you “learn how things were when they were younger.” He says, “now you can live a normal life and you can grow old, it just depends on how long you want to live. So many men are so driven to continue life. It’s inspiring.”

In addition, PDI offers case management, access to housing and transportation, and a daily meal program called Daily Bread, from which most clients receive the evening hot meal delivery, with some receiving an additional box lunch. In addition, they have a food bank.

Sulzman’s goal is to “inspire, reach, and educate,” the three words he said drive his work. “Because I am HIV positive, I can connect better with people that I meet who are positive.” In addition to his prevention and education duties, he is a licensed Phlebotomist (a person trained to draw blood from a patient) and is responsible for all the testing at PDI.

In that part of his job, he wants to start six satellite clinics outside of Wichita. “In many of these smaller towns, it costs money to have an HIV test. In Hutchinson, it costs $55.” He says it’s difficult enough to give HIV tests away for free, and that people in rural areas need access to testing. Sulzman is starting with two test clinics, in Hutchinson and Ark City, to see how the program works, and how demand for them develops. To publicize the clinics, he works with established groups like PFLAG Hutchinson, and plans to have the clinics at least monthly in such venues as health department offices, libraries, or local businesses that have room to accommodate the work.

Another effort he is involved in is the restructuring of the Bodyguards program. Originally a group doing face-to-face education efforts for men who have sex with men, Sulzman’s vision is bigger. “This disease doesn’t discriminate. I want to open this up to the community as a whole, not just gay men. There are people in other communities that need to be educated. We don’t want to just target one group, we want to target the community as a whole, and I’m thinking of good ideas for how to do that.”

Sulzman practices what he preaches. “If you ever think that you want to give up, I am living proof that you can live your life. I have a husband, and we have two children.” He and his husband were married November 17 at a mass wedding on the courthouse steps in Wichita. “Felt good, it felt right, it was something I wanted to do.” And it demonstrates to the community that HIV/AIDS, although it is a chronic disease, you can live with it.

Sulzman clearly is a great addition to PDI’s staff. “I don’t feel like I’ve even grazed the surface [of what I want to get done]. There is so much that can be done to make sure that people are aware of this disease, and other transmitted diseases as well. I live, breathe and sleep it. I have to relax and take it in doses. I have to learn to allow that time for me to regroup and have that piece.”

PDI is funded primarily by grants and gifts, and by their annual ArtAID event, which includes food, dancing, entertainment, and silent and live auctions. In addition, they have prevention and case management grants from the Kansas Department of Health.

For more information on Positive Directions, visit their website at www.pdiks.com.

The Gayly – March 13, 2015 @ 10:55am.