WASHINGTON, D.C.-First lady Laura Bush discussed her recent five-day trip to Africa at a National Press Club luncheon, "Why Africa," in Washington, D.C. on July 25. Having returned from Zambia, Mozambique, Senegal, and Mali, she spoke of the programs funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). She also commented on China's presence in Africa.
President Bush initiated PEPFAR in 2003 and recently asked Congress for $30 billion to combat the spread of HIV on the African continent.
President Bush is determined to keep the promise to fight HIV and AIDS, and would like to see a total of $48 billion contributed, over the next 18 years, to fund HIV/AIDS relief in Africa, she said.
President Bush's PEPFAR project includes reducing the "stigma" spread among the African communities toward victims of HIV and AIDS. Public knowledge of individuals infected with the virus causes them to loose their jobs and become ostracized by the family and community. In Africa, infected victims are said to have been stoned to death, locked up and left to die, or thrown out of homes.
The First Lady said she was especially moved after hearing that seven hundred thousand Zambian children have been orphaned as a result of the AIDS epidemic.
AIDS Programs Have Positive Impact, Says Mrs. Bush
Mrs. Bush said that through PEPFAR more than one million people in sub-Saharan Africa are thought to be receiving antiretroviral treatment. The effect of the AIDS antiretroviral drug has some encouraging results. The AIDS antiretroviral drug impairs the replication of HIV and is known to restore the partial health of those infected.
Mrs. Bush explained that the antiretroviral drug is being distributed by "caregivers" who, funded by AIDS prevention programs, go door to door to seek out victims suffering from infection. Mrs. Bush said Africans call treatment with the antiretroviral drug "the Lazarus effect". She named an example of a married father of four, ill and dying but, received treatment and now calls himself "healthy" and says his "children are smiling".
"The Lazarus effect" is a result of the compassion of American people and "it is in our country's interest to build a healthy Africa," she said. She also passed on President Bush's words: "Africa is much more than the sum of its problems." African people have a beautiful continent and an entrepreneurial spirit, she said.
According to the First Lady, AIDS prevention programs have had a positive impact. In Kenya, AIDS has dropped from 10 percent in the 1990s to just above 6 percent today, which she said is a result of men having fewer partners, women delaying the age at which they begin engaging in sexual activity, and abstinence.
Aside from Mozambique and Zimbabwe, the First lady visited Senegal and Mali, both of which are Muslim countries. "Americans were very welcome in both countries," she said. She speculated that the reason for the slightly lower AIDS rate is the conservativeness of the religion.
Mrs. Bush expressed her hopes for cooperation with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). Established in January 2004, the MCC is a United States Government corporation designed to work with some of the poorest countries in the world through encouraging economic growth.
Mrs. Bush Says China Not Helping Locals
When asked about China's growing involvement in Africa and whether the conflicting views on human rights by the Chinese was a concern, Laura Bush said that China brings their own labor and does not train the local people.
The Chinese communist regime completely renovated the Samual K. Doe (SKD) sports complex in Liberia. AllAfrica Global Media reported on allafrica.com that the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, now Acting Minister, Mr. Jeremiah P. Witherspoon, "said by undertaking this task for the young people of Liberia was an indication that China is indeed a true friend of the Liberians." The Samuel K. Doe (SKD) sports complex in Paynesville, Liberia, opened officially during a Liberian government hosted ceremony on July 21st.
Mrs. Bush said that that the sports stadium was entirely built not by local people who would benefit from the training and financing but by Chinese workers. Mrs. Bush did not answer the question directly or state whether or not China's globally known adverse view of human rights issues were in conflict with the White House's plans for AIDS relief and education.
When asked about her view of American people, she said, Americans are generous and compassionate people who take responsibility to volunteer and are concerned with the world outside, to reach out to help others. She also said that the country benefits from the First Lady's (or gentleman's) interests and that in the role one "does not have to deal with every single issue," like the President.
Laura Bush visited Rwanda, Tanzania, South Africa in July 2005 and Liberia, Ghana, and Nigeria in January 2006.
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