Dream For Africa Event - Feb 2005

February 5, 2005
University of Swaziland

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I appreciate being asked to address the Dream for Africa group from California --it is an honor to appear before you tonight. You presence in Swaziland speaks volumes about the will and determination of Americans of all stripes to contribute to an undertaking greater than yourselves—in the great tradition of community service, volunteerism and, yes, faith, of good US citizens around the world. You are one of the good and honorable faces of America and I thank you for your selflessness and service.

It is good you are in this beautiful country of Swaziland. My wife Joy and I have been here only 5 months ourselves and we are struck by its beauty, its gentle people and its potential for economic development. Since the last country where I served was Iraq, I am especially grateful for the relative peace and tranquility offered by this lush and lovely place.

But the beautiful surroundings of Swaziland mask another reality: the reality of poverty, unemployment, hunger and HIV/AIDS. Swaziland has the world’s highest incidence of AIDS in the world at at least 38%, and the true figure is likely higher. AIDS is killing Swaziland: some 20,000 died of complications of the virus last year, there are currently some 70,000 AIDS-related orphans with the projected number of orphans up to 120,000 by 2010—in a country of about a million. That’s an eighth of Swaziland’s entire population--- an astounding statistic. There are communities in rural Swaziland where whole generations are missing. Thousand of families are headed by an aging grandmother or by AIDS orphans themselves. Life expectancy is 33 years. Swaziland is in trouble.

The world’s response to the recent SE Asian tsunami is fascinating and gratifying in equal measure. The outpouring of international concern and generosity is laudable and gives testimony that decency among a good portion of humanity has not been found wanting. It is very noteworthy that governments and people of the world, within three weeks of the tragedy, had raised about $6 billion—almost exactly the same amount as the $5.9 billion currently in the Global Fund---to fight the pandemic of HIV/AIDS.

Without the slightest negative intent, it is vital to recall that today, tonight, at this very minute, there are six million people dying of AIDS, four million one hundred thousand of them here in Africa. We can’t begrudge a penny to the victims of the tsunami in SE Asia, but what does it say about us that we can somehow tolerate the slow and unnecessary deaths of millions whose lives would be rescued with treatment; or the millions that can be saved in the future with different patterns of behavior?

I think about the news coverage of Iraq—which was my life for 15 months—and I recall the relentless media coverage of, say, attacks on convoys or car bomb explosions or IEDs. There is so much less coverage of AIDS—unlike car bombs, AIDS make no noise, it is the silent killer, it is less intrusive, it is away from the glare of television. AIDS needs to make more noise, manifest in tidal waves, occupy our attention through television and newspapers and sear itself indelibly into our consciences.

To be fair, there is some good news here too: 

• Swaziland’s National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) and the Ministry of Health are dedicated and doing a good job—they are trying to get 13,000 people on ARVs  by the end of the year. They are also getting the Global Fund to provide a stipend of $40 to thousand of women that are caring for the tens of thousands of AIDS orphans out there—which would be a wonderful use of money and recognize the value of women’s unpaid work in an appalling AIDS environment.
  
• The WHO is moving impressively on treatment programs
  
• World Food Program also is providing food in support of orphans and AIDS effected communities
  
• The USG has 6 USG agencies working here—including USAID/CDC, the African Development Foundation, the Depts of Labor & Defense and Peace Corps has 55 PCVs in rural Swazi communities working entirely on AIDS programs with more volunteers on the way. Our funding on the way up.

The USG is determined to do our share on AIDS in Swaziland---hopefully more—and increasing the funding and effectiveness of our programs is our highest priority in this country. The money needed is not insignificant—but if the world’s generosity and awareness that is being shown for the tsunami victims can carry over to the AIDS epidemic, there is truly hope.

A final word to the young volunteers participating in this important program—some of you overseas or in the developing world, or in Africa for the first time. As you consider what to do as your life’s work, consider work where you can make a difference to the lives of people overseas. Our world needs more understanding, better health, democracy, economic development and faith, backed and bolstered by the good works of capable men and women. There are many ways to make this happen.

It has been a pleasure to be here. Thank you again.