Bush announces Africa trip, presses for AIDS funds

Bush announces Africa trip, presses for AIDS funds
A large AIDS ribbon hangs from the North Portico of the White House, November 30, 2007. (Yuri Gripas/Reuters)MOUNT AIRY, Maryland (Reuters) - President George W. Bushon Friday announced a trip to Africa early next year for afirst-hand look at U.S.-sponsored HIV/AIDS programs and pressedCongress to approve a doubling of funds to combat the diseaseglobally.
Bush used an appearance at a church in Mount Airy,Maryland, the day before World AIDS Day to reaffirm hisadministration's multibillion-dollar commitment to fightingwhat he called the "scourge of HIV/AIDS."
"We rededicate ourselves to a great purpose. We will turnthe tide against HIV/AIDS, once and for all," Bush said aftermeeting members of nongovernmental organizations andfaith-based groups working in the hardest-hit countries.
AIDS activists have praised Bush's global anti-AIDS effortfor getting life-extending drugs to people who otherwise wouldgo without them, but have criticized its prevention measuresfor focusing too heavily on encouraging sexual abstinence.
Police arrested about 40 people staging a sit-in protest onthe sidewalk in front of the White House against requirementsin the U.S. program that at least a third of the funds bedirected to promoting sexual abstinence until marriage.
Offering an upbeat assessment of his administration'santi-AIDS effort, Bush said he and first lady Laura Bush wouldvisit sub-Saharan Africa early next year to see "the results ofAmerica's generosity."
He gave no dates or itinerary for the trip, his second tothe region since taking office in 2001. He made a five-nationtour in 2003 during which he visited AIDS patients in Uganda.
Bush sees his initiatives against AIDS and malaria asforeign policy successes, and a trip to Africa in his finalyear in office could underscore that and give a boost to alegacy expected to be dominated by the unpopular war in Iraq.
Flanked by participants from Friday's meeting outsideWashington, Bush urged Congress to authorize legislationdoubling the U.S. financial commitment to combat AIDS globallyto $30 billion over five years, starting next year.
The program is focused on 15 countries -- 12 in Africa,plus Vietnam, Haiti and Guyana.
In 2003 Bush launched a five-year, $15 billion initiativecalled the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, orPEPFAR, to provide drugs to treat people infected with thehuman immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS and supportprevention efforts.
"I call on Congress to show America's leadership andcompassion by reauthorizing the emergency plan," he said.
More than 33 million people are infected with the AIDSvirus, according to the latest U.N. estimate.
Bush said the U.S. plan had helped increase the number ofpeople in sub-Saharan Africa receiving antiretroviral drugs to1.4 million from 50,000 five years ago.
(Editing by Vicki Allen)