SAMARITAN'S Purse International UK (SPI) administers a ticking off to British churches for not doing enough about the world-wide plight of millions who are caught up in the Aids pandemic (Focus on Faith, June 23).

After its carping remarks about people who are no doubt doing their best, perhaps SPI will now turn its attention to where it really matters - those actually in charge of healthcare in the countries most affected.

For example, what has SPI to say about South Africa's health minister who urges Aids patients to combat the disease with beetroot and garlic rather than anti-retroviral drugs? The same individual recently withdrew from a major HIV conference, complaining she had been overshadowed by her deputy.

Even the UN Special Enjoy criticised the minister's approach as being "more worthy of a lunatic fringe than of a concerned and compassionate state".

However politically incorrect it may be to print this disgraceful situation, the concern is fully warranted. It is a concern that SPI should be highlighting instead of picking on easy targets at home.

COLIN SMITH, Totton branch, New Forest East Conservatives