On January 1, 2008, American Friends of Le Kinkeliba submitted a Letter to the Editor of The New York Times in response to an Op-Ed piece that appeared that day by Daniel Halperin entitled "Putting a Plague in Perspective." The text of our letter follows. Mr. Halperin's essay is accessible at www.nytimes.com.

January 1st, 2008
The New York Times
To the Editor,

Daniel Halperin's Op-Ed "Putting a Plague in Perspective" brings to very welcome light the multiple health problems confronting Africa and, in particular, Senegal.

Our organization, American Friends of Le Kinkeliba, is proof that it does not take great amounts of money to make an extraordinary difference in this domain. We exist to assist the French-based non-profit Le Kinkeliba, which builds and operates clean, modern medical centers, as well as kindergartens and other educational facilities, in remote areas of the Senegalese bush country. It provides life-saving services to entire communities where medical facilities and preventive health programs were previously non-existent. Le Kinkeliba has responded with amazing effectiveness to the urgent need for quality pre- and post-natal care to young mothers and their babies, and has succeeded in reducing mortality while helping prevent the spread of all diseases, not just "the big three."

Sometimes it takes nothing more than arriving with a duffel bag full of antibiotics to save human lives. By being directly involved with a small handful of villages where Le Kinkeliba is happily integrated into the communities, the organization is stunningly effective.

If some of the global funding now directed elsewhere were used instead to improve basic medical services and sanitary conditions, to eliminate malnutrition and to promote health education for children and adults alike, a vast number of underserved African citizens would benefit immeasurably. Through private donations, we have made a start in that effort, and are proof that effective solutions exist.

Sincerely,
Nicholas Fox Weber, President
Anne Barker, Director
The American Friends of Le Kinkeliba