The Editor, Sir:

Thanks for publishing the article in The Sunday Gleaner regarding the constant bad news about Africa. To ignore the fact that Africa has problems would be downright silly and disingenuous. The ravages of civil wars have played havoc on the continent's economy and development.

We might even be prone at times to say that Africa is devouring itself, the result of ethnic conflict and corruption. But on a closer look, there are positive things happening in the continent. Africa is the second largest continent in the world consisting of approximately 52 countries, populated by diverse ethnic groups; it is, therefore, myopic for anyone to use a broad brush to paint all of Africa as a slum, needing someone to adopt it.

Some of Africa's problems are political, environmental and these are health-related issues. For example, malaria and extremes in weather conditions can be devastating to the lives of human beings and animals as well. The BBC did an excellent report a few weeks ago on the Masai cattle rearing group of East Africa who is losing its cattle and most of its wealth due to severe drought. If the Masai are not able to make some rapid changes, it won't be long before their well nourished children are shown on TV with protruding bellies, wide blank-looking eyes and flies buzzing around their faces.

Granted that the role of reporters is to report what attracts attention, it is also important to report both sides of a story. Many black young people of African ancestry do not want to identify with Africa because of the over saturation of bad news, disease and starvation that are constantly fed to them via the media. Never anything good. Thanks to the BBC for trying to make a difference to the way in which the continent is covered.

It is true that since the Europeans left Africa (if they ever really left) the continent has not progressed. Africa is bombarded by internal and external forces, not easily understood by many. Maybe the reading or, rereading of Achebe's THINGS FALL APART might help to shed light on some possible reasons for some of the continent's dilemma.

Positive things

I lived in Africa and visited different countries and saw many positive things. Some of their positives achievements are manifested in Jamaica,e.g. African nurses, physicians and educators are living in Jamaica as productive individuals.

Are we to believe that China is the only far-sighted nation that's not looking at Africa myopically as an unsolvable slum? The interesting thing about the Africa/Chinese connection is the range of comments it has`attracted. A recent book published this year written by journalist Charlene Gunter Gault (now living in South Africa) should help us to get a more unbiased view of the continent. Africa is still rich with resources that the world needs.

I am, etc.,

LOUISE SPENCER-STRACHAN

Medical anthropologist

Kingston 10