To the editor,

I intended saving the enclosed poem for the opening of the

"National Acute Respiratory Infection" program but after reading Dr Beat

Richner's article [Phnom Penh Post Jan 13], I think it's best to

let

it go:

Its unbelievable how bugs that eyes cannot see,

Can play such havoc

in our lives,

Pen. and strep. for some time were the best,

Till

Ampi. and cloxa. were brought to the test,

Tetra. and Chloram. are still

used wide,

But pros and cons are putting them aside,

Macrolids and

Beta lactamase,

Have put many in the shade,

While Ceftriaxone and

quinolones,

Have replaced many and come into vogue,

Our aim is to

cure, but we're often confused,

The knowledge to prescribe we often

lose,

What shall we do to get out of this maze?

Its time we begin

to change our ways,

How shall we do this? How shall we

teach?

Cause we hardly practice what we preach,

But there's time,

its never too late,

to show through our practice how to

educate,

to reason and judge, the benefits and cost,

so that our

goals are never lost,

Much more is required to cure the sick,

Congratulatins! if done without ANTIBIOTICS.

- Dr. Daisy Tin Tin

Saw, CCHP Project, World Vision International Cambodia.