Good cause

I was deeply touched by James A. Zingeser's article, "Sight for Sore Eyes" (12/04-1/05). Mr. Zingeser's straightforward description of the disease touched my heart, as I imagined how constant the misery of trachoma would be.

I have become sickeningly accustomed to hearing about "solutions" to problems in developing countries that are really political decisions serving the interests of ruling classes and militaries. The epidemiological work and the implementation strategies involved in the trachoma-control effort seemed to me profoundly thoughtful and well grounded in the principle of meeting people where they are.

Keith Thurlow

Truro, Massachusetts

JAMES A. ZINGESER REPLIES: I thank Mr. Thurlow for his kind and perceptive remarks about the global efforts to control trachoma. He is absolutely correct, we live in a world in which we can either share our enormous wealth to end extreme poverty, hunger, and disease, or watch resources waylaid and squandered for war and greed.

Our strategy has always been to "meet people where they are" by listening to them and responding to their needs. In the same way, the Carter Center, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization, along with dedicated development and health-care workers worldwide, are on the verge of eradicating guinea worm disease and poliomyelitis.

President Jimmy Carter has played another crucial role by using his direct access to heads of state and leaders of industry to speak out for forgotten persons worldwide. A year ago I presented President Carter with compelling data suggesting that providing latrines would reduce trachoma and have a huge impact on other hygiene-related illnesses for extremely impoverished families. He stopped me and asked, "How many latrines are we talking about?" "Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions," I replied. He didn't flinch, "All right then, who do I need to speak with to get this going? Let's not waste time."

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