Despite continued focus and attention on America’s healthcare crisis – And the Obama administration’s crafting of a reform bill that will drive the final nail into the coffin – there is a true “feel good” story about healthcare that’s been largely ignored. In their fury to blame George W. Bush for everything from the failing economy to global warming, the media have ignored the overwhelming and sustained success of his efforts to address HIV and AIDs in Africa.
AIDs activists, NGOs and media elites are quick to heap praise on Obama for expanding AIDs-fighting programs, but the real credit belongs to his predecessor.
AIDs activists, NGOs and media elites are quick to heap praise on Obama for expanding AIDs-fighting programs, but the real credit belongs to his predecessor.
The “secret” to Bush’s formula for success was a departure from previous multi-billion dollar aid initiatives. Bush envisioned a new kind of aid program – One that focused on creating partnerships with businesses and private industry rather than delivering trucks full of cash to corrupt local governments and inefficient aid organizations. He proved that large scale treatment and aggressive prevention programs can be implemented by leveraging relationships with the pharmaceutical companies that produce retroviral drugs, and the private sector, including churches, to deliver care.
Both the 2002 Global Fund to Fight AIDs, Malaria and Tuberculosis and his 2003 President’s Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief (PEPFAR)delivered remarkable and measurable impact on a hugely suffering population. Indisputably, the programs helped to save 30 million lives from the scourge of AIDS, and proved to be one of the most successful foreign aid initiatives ever. Recent economic development and free market reforms have been possible in Africa largely as a result of its people being yanked back from the brink of near certain death.
In addition to markedly decreasing the incidence of new HIV infection and deaths from AIDs, Bush’s efforts engendered significant good will and gratitude from the peoples of Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Uganda – an important and rarely reported side-effect by those propagating the myth of the U.S’s dismal reputation around the globe.
Today, PEPFAR and the Global Fund continue to provide retroviral drug therapy to suppress HIV infection and programs to prevent maternal transmission of HIV to children.
But that’s not all: Bush’s healthcare legacy extends beyond these initial programs to the work that his twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, are now pursuing. The Bush daughters helped to formulate the concept for Global Health Corps, an NGO with a mission to improve access to healthcare in impoverished communities in the Unites States and around the world. Both are now actively involved in its operations.
Similar to their father’s approach with PEPFAR, the Global Health Corps leverages people with operating experience and connections to supply chains rather than simply providing cash and supplies – the only truly sustainable way to manage global health crises. Given our country’s current financial constraints, we can anticipate growing challenges to our commitment to many humanitarian efforts; this model for foreign aid provides our best hope for continued success.
Similar to their father’s approach with PEPFAR, the Global Health Corps leverages people with operating experience and connections to supply chains rather than simply providing cash and supplies – the only truly sustainable way to manage global health crises. Given our country’s current financial constraints, we can anticipate growing challenges to our commitment to many humanitarian efforts; this model for foreign aid provides our best hope for continued success.
Whether this story has been simply over-looked or actively suppressed by the main stream media is unclear. Without question, the media and the current administration remain obsessed with unfairly blaming Bush for a host of economic and other ills, and he rarely receives the recognition he deserves for his accomplishments. Many have predicted that history will ultimately paint his presidency quite attractively.
In the near term, however, the irrefutable, if oft ignored, legacy of George W. Bush may well be the story of his optimism, creativity, commitment and success in addressing suffering and a true healthcare crisis on another continent, and his vision for a sustainable approach to humanitarian aid.
In the near term, however, the irrefutable, if oft ignored, legacy of George W. Bush may well be the story of his optimism, creativity, commitment and success in addressing suffering and a true healthcare crisis on another continent, and his vision for a sustainable approach to humanitarian aid.
