The Tragedy of AIDS in Africa I am one person (and, I suspect, one of many) who knew virtually nothing about the magnitude of the AIDS epidemic in Africa and its horrific results: millions of orphaned children (“The Plague Years,” International, Jan. 17). I had heard bits and pieces of information over the last few years about the struggles with the disease in Africa, but nothing like the wealth of information that was reported in your cover story. I am overwhelmed–and wondering how best to go about helping these children. [Editor’s note: Please see box on the following page.]

Laurie Jacobs-Carneiro

Orlando, Fla.

I wept as I read your coverage of the AIDS epidemic in southern Africa. I have traveled to Zambia for the past 15 years and have seen the progression of this terrible disease. Many of my Zambian friends have died, I assume of AIDS. Of course, you can’t be sure, since most are not tested and it is a taboo subject. I remember sitting in a church service in a village in the southern part of Zambia and hearing the preacher say that one in four Zambians had AIDS. A loud murmur moved through the congregation, indicating their distaste for even a mention of the subject. Even though the problem seems insurmountable, individuals are trying to alleviate the suffering. Most of the Zambian families I know are caring for an AIDS orphan. These people are heroes. I applaud NEWSWEEK for its story and beg everyone not to forget the devastation AIDS has brought upon the people of southern Africa.

Sheryl Ramsey

Liverpool, N.Y.

In Africa, a significant number of AIDS cases in children and their mothers result from HIV-contaminated blood. The areas hardest hit by AIDS are also those where unscreened transfusions are widely used, not only in surgery but also for treating trauma, malaria, sickle cell anemia and pregnancy complications. To help end AIDS in Africa, we must wisely invest hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure that hospitals and clinics are safe.

Stephen F. Minkin

Brattleboro, Vt.

I spent five months of 1999 volunteering at a hospital in a rural town in southern Africa. The number of abandoned or orphaned children was staggering, but even more stunning were the cases of children suspected of being HIV-positive whose parent or caretaker had chosen to try to kill them rather than take care of them. One little girl had been put in front of a truck by her mother; another had been thrown onto a fire and rescued by a neighbor who heard her cries. Children like these live in a dirty, understaffed hospital, dressed in shifts made from old canvas bags that are often soiled with various bodily excretions. The hospital has no resources and is serving basically as an orphanage and a home for adults dying of AIDS who have been abandoned by their families. Thank you for your story. I hope that it causes people, especially those in the health professions, to donate some of their time somewhere in Africa. The need is truly overwhelming, and the potential to make a difference cannot be overestimated.

Whitney Scott

Indianapolis, Ind.

Thank you, NEWSWEEK, for your thorough coverage of AIDS orphans in Africa. Maybe now people will wake up to the fact that AIDS is literally killing off our planet. If people believe that they are far removed from the AIDS epidemic, they are daydreamers.

Leslie Alperin

Pepper Pike, Ohio

Corrections In our Jan. 24 story about Ernestine Bradley (“A Daughter’s Hard Questions,” National Affairs), we incorrectly reported that her father had been a German Luftwaffe pilot during World War II. In fact, his job in the German Air Force involved ground-support duties, and he did not fly.

In our football story (“Old School, New Age” (Society, Jan. 17), we incorrectly referred to the Iowa Barnstormers as the Iowa Stampeders.

In response to our special report on the devastating effect of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, many of our readers have asked us how they can help. Some suggestions: US Fund for UNICEF 333 East 38th Street New York, NY 10016 800-FORKIDS unicefusa.org

SOS Children’s Villages–USA 1010 Pendleton Street Alexandria, VA 22314-9740 703-683-9020

Africare 440 R Street NW Washington, DC 20001 202-462-3614

Uganda Women’s Effort to Save Orphans 2 Tagore Crescent, Kamwokya P.O. Box 8419 Kampala, Uganda (256-41) 532394 or 532395 uweso@imul.com

World Education 44 Farnsworth Street Boston, MA 02210 617-482-9485