Daschle Says United States Must Help Africa Battle AIDS

A recent four-nation tour of Africa left Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) convinced that the United States must help Africa battle the AIDS epidemic. "I think that it is important for us to provide assistance to these countries because I think that if we don't, we could find ourselves in a very, very serious crisis in terms of what it could mean for terrorism, what it could mean for instability in all these countries, and what ultimately that could mean for other parts of the world," Daschle said. "We can't ignore it."

Daschle visited South Africa, Botswana, Kenya and Nigeria with Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), and Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.). The senators made their trip during the August congressional recess to gain a better understanding of the economic and health situation in Africa, Daschle said. "We were very alarmed at what we witnessed and heard while we were there," Daschle said. "It's very disconcerting to see what is happening there and the trouble they are experiencing." He said the African nations are trying to develop a strategy for dealing with the epidemic, but they lack facilities, trained personnel and other resources needed to fight AIDS, he said. "It's very possible this situation could cause instability not only in the economy, but in the governments themselves," he said.

More than 5,000 people die of AIDS each day in Africa, Daschle said. President Bush has proposed that the United States provide $500 million over the next five years to stem mother-to-child HIV transmission in Africa and the Caribbean. Daschle said he thinks both parties will support the request. Some critics have said the Bush proposal does not provide enough money to fight AIDS.

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