Madam, - International Orphan Aid Ireland wishes to add its voice to the swelling number of individuals and organisations protesting against the Minister for Health's recent decision to advise athletes from SARS-affected countries not to travel to Ireland for the Special Olympics.
IOAI is a small Irish charity dedicated to bringing abandoned children with special medical needs from China to Ireland for treatment. From our particular standpoint we have an excellent overview of the conscientious and thorough way in which the Chinese authorities deal with the large and growing problem of child abandonment in their country.
Against the background of reports that the Chinese authorities are now making strenuous efforts to contain SARS, and the growing body of expert medical opinion pointing out that the ban is unnecessary in view of the low risks posed by the relatively small numbers of athletes coming into Ireland, it is inexplicable to us why the Minister feels constrained to hold his position in this matter. Perhaps he has access to medical opinion of greater worth and merit than that of the officers of the public health committee of the Royal College of Physicians and the WHO, both of whom are reported in your edition of May 22nd as believing the Minister's decision to be unnecessary.
I would also draw the Minister's attention to the story of Shi Lei, reported in the same edition of your paper. This 16-year-old mentally handicapped boy, the fastest roller skater in China, has dreamed of representing his country abroad. His dreams are now shattered.
Ireland of the Welcomes? Only if you have all the relevant blood tests! Shame! Shame! Shame! - Yours, etc.,
SALLY KEAVENEY,
Managing Director,
International Orphan
Aid Ireland,
Dublin 24.