HIV/AIDS in Africa: Did Bush Visit to Africa Move Remedial Efforts Forward

[Guest guest]

HIV/AIDS in Africa: Did President Bush Visit to Africa Move Remedial

Efforts Forward?

By Chinua Akukwe

Email: cakukwe@...

July 23, 2003

President recently completed a lightning five-day, five-nation visit

to Africa. During this visit, Africa was constantly in the news as

the President moved from one nation to the other. A major question

has been the impact of the president's visit on HIV/AIDS remedial

efforts in Africa. Did President Bush visit move forward the agenda

for HIV/AIDS remedial efforts in Africa? I briefly explore this

question from five perspectives.

First, a five-day visit, even by the most powerful political leader

in the world, is unlikely to dramatically move forward a growing

catastrophe of more than 20 years. Every day, at least 6800 Africans

die of AIDS. A lightning visit can hardly alter this reality.

However, the visit did shine an enduring spotlight on health and

development challenges that Africa is facing, including the deadly

epidemic of HIV/AIDS. No matter the efforts of the African hosts to

spruce up their country in readiness for President Bush's visit, the

ongoing economic and social problems in Africa could never be hidden

or tucked away. Bush, I believe, saw first hand the

development challenges of Africa.

Second, Bush himself, saw first hand the menace of HIV/AIDS in

Africa, the woeful lack of resources to tackle the epidemic, and the

needless wasting of lives that could benefit from readily available

stock of antiretroviral therapy. Let nobody underestimate the power

of first impressions and real " live " demonstration of issues for a

consummate politician. I believe that Bush that went to Africa

dramatically increased his awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic and

it's vice grip on the lives of Africans.

Third, the visit did put Africa/United States relations under

scrutiny. Is United States of America doing enough to assist

impoverished African countries fight HIV/AIDS, poverty and other

infectious diseases? Is the United States doing enough to assist

Africa trade its way out of poverty? Is the only super power doing

enough to assist poor African countries improve the social and

economic conditions of their people? Is the ultimate economic power

on earth doing enough to persuade young Africans that the future is

bright and the road to emancipation is through peaceful resolution of

political and economic differences? These questions are important

since HIV/AIDS remedial efforts should be intricately linked with

advances in economic and social conditions.

Fourth, the president's visit highlighted the vast economic

potentials of Africa and how these potentials could be harnessed for

accelerated development if genuine partnership exists between Africa

and its Western trading partners. Again, a genuine development

partnership between Africa and its Western allies will have positive

effects on HIV/AIDS remedial efforts by creating wealth for Africans

(not just poverty alleviation), improving governance, and encouraging

the participation of all stakeholders in the political process. Many

African countries depend on the volatile, internationally set prices

of their unprocessed farm products and natural resources for precious

foreign exchange. Yet, African farmers, the engine room of most

economies in Africa, are effectively shut out of American markets by

high tariffs. It is no coincidence that African leaders are now

focusing on better trade, in addition to more foreign aid.

Fifth, the president's visit put a major searchlight on what African

leaders are doing or not doing in the fight against HIV/AIDS. I am a

firm believer that the first line of leadership in the fight against

HIV/AIDS in Africa revolves around its leaders. President Museveni of

Uganda deservedly gets a lot of kudos for his courageous fight

against HIV/AIDS. Other African leaders are not as bold, with

disastrous consequences for their citizens. It is also instructive to

note that Bush was visiting Africa around the same time as the

congregation of African leaders for the African Union meeting in

Maputo, Mozambique. That the president skipped Maputo may suggest a

wait-and-see attitude about the latest attempt by African leaders to

confront their continental problems and solve them, accordingly.

Ultimately, the impact of the President's visit to Africa regarding

HIV/AIDS remedial efforts in Africa will revolve around specific,

timely deliverables in Africa by the United States. These

deliverables are urgently needed in the following areas: Community-

based prevention programs; access to lifesaving medicines; support

for families affected by the epidemic, including AIDS orphans;

support for the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria; and, helping

Africa trade its way out of poverty. In the memory of millions of

Africans that have died and millions more at risk, Africans and

Western nations led by the United States cannot afford any delay in

mounting a vigorous, sustained response against HIV/AIDS.

President Bush confounded his critics by his $15 billion bold

initiative on HIV/AIDS for twelve African nations and two countries

in the Caribbean. He visited Africa and saw first hand the monumental

challenges. The president can again confound his critics by ensuring

that bold action steps are taken by the United States to speed up

HIV/AIDS remedial efforts in Africa.

About the Author: Dr. Chinua Akukwe (cakukwe@a...) is a member of

the Board of Directors of the Constituency for Africa, Washington, DC

and a former Vice Chairman of the National Council for International

Health (NCIH) now known as the Global Health Council, Washington, DC.

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