Ryan Streeter
Some sage words of advice from President George W. Bush:
I am happily out of the political business. But I can offer some friendly advice to members of Congress, new and old. A thousand pressing issues come with each day. But there are only a few that you will want to talk about in retirement with your children. The continuing fight against global AIDS is something for which America will be remembered. And you will never regret the part you take.
With these words, he closes his Washington Post today, after detailing the results that have been achieved under PEPFAR, his emergency AIDS plan that has undeniably been a success owing to the sheer size of the African population for which it has reversed the hellish consequences of HIV.
Now, given the times we're in, there isn't exactly a big public appetite for topics like aid to Africa, so I'm sure there is some eye-rolling going on among Republicans in Washington who read Bush's column today.
But it's worth pointing out, purely for reflection, on what Bush didn't say in his column. Africa is viewed increasingly as an opportunity-rich environment for resource-hungry developing nations and a destination for investment and business expansion by the developed world.
How much has the relatively thankless work of investing in basic public health improvement contributed to Africa's economic development?
Brazil is now copying China's unapologetic safari into every possible African hinterland in search of resources to fuel the Chinese economy's high-adrenaline expansion. Wal-Mart has acquired Massmart in South Africa and is looking for opportunities in neighboring countries. This is only the beginning.
No one will likely ever be able to quantify the contribution that Bush's efforts have made to making Africa an attractive destination for investment. And many would argue that investment would have come anyway, and I'm sure there's truth to that.
But I find it equally hard to doubt that the effects of public health progress - tangible (a growing human resource base with longer life spans) and intangible (a sense of hope and opportunity) - are making a significant contribution to Africa's economic appeal.
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