GEORGE W. BUSH, a GENUINE AFRICAN HERO

GEORGE W. BUSH, a GENUINE AFRICAN HERO

                                                                             
                                             

    Former President George W. Bush holds a baby named after him at Ngungu Cancer Clinic in Zambia' July 3, 2012.

                                    

                                                         BY:  MOHAMED MATOPE

While much of the world is remembered George W. Bush by Iraq war and economic collapse, in Africa, former president’s legacy is much brighter. He is seen as great hero, who helped to end the region deadly pandemic and saved millions of lives.

It was clear George W. Bush had passion for Africa from the start. When he entered the White House in 2001, U.S was spending $1.1 billion a year on humanitarian and development aid to sub-Saharan Africa.

During his time in the office, that amount went up to $ 6.2 billion, more than twice of the level spent by any U.S administration.

The critical turning point of his commitment to the continent occurred, when launched the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).PEPFAR has been hailed as the largest U.S. global health aid program in history.

The program was devoted to combat AIDS in the countries hit hard by the pandemic, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Unlike other foreign assistance programs, where funding is the biggest problem, PEPFAR was funded with unprecedented $48 billion over ten years (2003-2013).

Consider the fact that, the year PEPFAR went into effect, in 2003, nearly 30 million people in Sub-Sahara Africa had been infected by HIV virus, of those, fewer than 50,000 had access to  (ART) drug. The life saving drugs that keeps the virus under control, and prevent HIV from progressing to full-blown AIDS.

Meantime, the pandemic was threatening of wiping out whole generation, had already infected an estimated 30 percent of the adults and had killed more than 2 millions people in 2002 alone. 

In South Africa the numbers were even terrifying; the pandemic had already killed 2.3 million peoples, on top of all, the pandemic has also been killing about 2000 peoples every day.

Today, over 7 million peoples affected by HIV/AIDS in sub –Saharan Africa are receiving lifesaving (ART) drug, with nearly 1 million added in 2011 alone.

This includes over 1 million pregnant HIV-positive women, who received ART treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

And the results have been remarkable. According to PEPFAR, about 800,000 infants have been   born   HIV-negative due to PEPFAR’s mother-to child transmission program.

Furthermore, the program has prevented more than 3 million deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa, in addition, AIDS-related deaths has been  reduced by 32 percent from 1.8 million in 2005 to 1.2 million in 2011.

In South Africa, where the pandemic is the largest in the world, the success has even been more striking, the recent statistics shows, the rates of HIV infection has decreased to 30 percent and over 2 million people are on lifesaving (ART) drug.

Undeniably, George W. Bush deserves credit for initiating and administering PEPFAR, however, many other organizations, including United Nations played major roles in the fight against AIDS.

 The fact of the matter is that, George W. Bush launched the PEPFAR, with which his name will forever be associated, so it is also fair for him to receive a great praise for the success of the program.

Now, as ex- president, George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush continue to confront the continent’s problems. Their new initiatives focus on screening and treatment of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death among HIV women in South African countries.

 “The saddest thing of all is to know a lady's life has been saved from AIDS, but she died from cervical cancer," Bush wrote.

Talking of long term commitment --perhaps is a reason why George W. Bush is loved in Africa; in fact, he is more popular than any other U.S president. The bottom line is that, George W. Bush has helped to give millions of AIDS patients a second chance at life and people don’t forget you after you revived them from death.

Tanzanian President, Jakaya Kikwete said it best “Different people may have different views about you and your administration and your legacy” He pointed to Bush “Mr. President, and your administration, have been good friends of our country and have been good friends of Africa”

Indeed, a good friend is one who cares for you when you are sick. Millions of Africans, whose lives were once given up for dead, today, are living productive lives because of George W. Bush’s commitments, and open heart to the continent. He is a genuine African Hero.

Mohamed Matope is the syndicated columnist for Tanzanian and African blogs.