The Pan African Reading for All Conference, sponsored by the International Development Committee for Africa, the leadership of African councils of the International Reading Association, took at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in August. The ideas of presenters were distilled into a set of resolutions and recommendations, which will be presented to bodies concerned with improving education in Africa.

This loose talk about AIDS can kill people - .

It is very dangerous to say without data that bed nets, circumcision, or other AIDS prevention methods don't work. That they might not work in very extreme situations is no reason to spread the false impression that they don't work.

Both DO reduce transmission when backed up by proper health care systems - and most AIDS cases are in peaceful countries like South Africa where prevention saves lives. Yes, work to settle and prevent war.

Yes, strengthen the networks which back up women's rights. Yes, criticize abstinence only strategies. But NO, don't undercut strategies which are saving lives every day.