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phone 202.293.7728 fax 202.293.7554 web PeaceCorpsConnect.org

The Next Step in Changing the World
March 14, 2018
Christopher Turpin
Acting Senior Vice President for News/Editorial Director
National Public Radio
1111 North Capitol Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002
Dear Mr. Turpin,
It has recently come to our attention that a National Public Radio (NPR) feature on the effects of the
antimalarial mefloquine on volunteers serving in the Peace Corps is no longer scheduled for airing. We
understand this is due to the dismissal of the lead reporter for reasons unrelated to the integrity of the story
content. As this feature has been several years in the making and has gone through significant editing and
vetting, we encourage you to take the necessary steps to ensure this story is aired.
While many Peace Corps Volunteers have used mefloquine and not experienced side effects, we have also
heard from many within our community who have complained about the after effects of mefloquine use. In
recent years, Peace Corps responded to volunteer concerns by making policy changes to strengthen volunteer
choice in selecting an appropriate antimalarial drug for their service. However, legislation currently before the
House of Representatives (H.R. 2259) includes mefloquine provisions and indicates further improvements can
be made.
It is our hope that providing forums where all parties can share their viewpoints leads to informative decision
making and a stronger, better Peace Corps. The volunteers who stepped forward for this interview are an
important part of this forum. The individual testimonies of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who
agreed to be interviewed by NPR represent a small sample of volunteers who, over time, faced moderate to
severe health impacts due to mefloquine toxicity.
The decision RPCVs made to share their experiences for a nationally broadcast story was not an easy one.
Going public with personal testimonies about one’s health care and subsequent challenges requires trust and
confidence. Withdrawing the story for reasons not dealing with content may be demoralizing for those whose
service we value and who stepped forward expecting their voices (and others like them) be heard.
I understand the resource constraints the news industry is facing, but ask you to commit the resources to air
this story.

Sincerely,

Glenn Blumhorst
President and CEO