It’s a tired old clich?, but an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure. In response to Natalie Morse’s op-ed article of April 5-6, I’d like to reiterate the wisdom of preserving the Fund for a Healthy Maine for the highly effective prevention programs it supports.

From a dental perspective alone, the fund has had a huge impact on the health of Maine citizens. Four new dental centers in Bangor, Ellsworth, Strong and Waterville have recently been developed with the help of FHM funds. These dental centers serve thousands of children and adults who would otherwise be without care. The care they receive prevents costly emergency room visits, missed days of school and work, and expensive treatment down the road. The fund also supports highly effective smoking prevention and cessation programs, teen pregnancy prevention programs, quality day care and so much more.

Gov. Baldacci and state legislators have an important decision to make. They can make the easy and tempting decision to divert FHM funds, as so many other states have done, knowing that Mainers will pay a big price in skyrocketing health care costs in the future. Or they can take to heart Maine’s motto, “Dirigo” (I Lead), and permanently preserve the fund. As with Maine’s clean election law, the legacy they leave will once again impress upon the rest of the nation Maine’s ability to “just do the right thing.”

Marina de Lune

Maine Dental Access Coalition coordinator

Belfast