Our global AIDS community is shocked by the disappearance of Wan Yanhai ("China's Top AIDS Activist Missing; Arrest Is Suspected," news article, Aug. 29).

Dr. Wan has shown extraordinary courage and perseverance in his efforts to fight the spread of AIDS in China. Recently he came to Washington to receive the 2001 Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights on behalf of Dr. Gao Yaojie, who had herself not been permitted to travel to the United States to accept the award. His courage in telling her story - and in speaking out on behalf of the thousands infected with H.I.V. who have fallen victim to the financial interests of some Chinese provincial officials - could very well have put him in harm's way.

We must all continue to tell the victims' stories if we are to trigger action that will stop the march of this disease across China. Denial and greed feed the explosive spread of AIDS globally, and efforts to silence the honest voices of AIDS activists work against all of humankind.

NILS DAULAIRE
President, Global Health Council
Washington, Aug. 30, 2002

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