Obama '08?

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- Sen. Barack Obama will take a public HIV test at a remote Kenyan clinic this weekend to promote HIV/AIDS prevention in a country where an average of 700 people die each day from the disease.

Obama, the only African-American in the Senate, was to arrive in Kenya Thursday and take the test in the western village of Nyangoma-Kogelo, where his father -- a goat herder who went on to study at Harvard -- grew up and his grandmother still lives, said Jennifer Barnes, a spokeswoman at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.

Quote:

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) -- Sen. Barack Obama will take a public HIV test at a remote Kenyan clinic this weekend to promote HIV/AIDS prevention in a country where an average of 700 people die each day from the disease.

Obama, the only African-American in the Senate, was to arrive in Kenya Thursday and take the test in the western village of Nyangoma-Kogelo, where his father -- a goat herder who went on to study at Harvard -- grew up and his grandmother still lives, said Jennifer Barnes, a spokeswoman at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Kenya-Obama.html

This simple single public act might well have public health consequences of real significance. This is one smart fellow.

Yeah, shame on Obama for caring about Africans. Or for foreign policy in general. What does he think he is, a Senator? He's an African-American, so he should just stick to concerning himself with other African-Americans!




(that response is in part to Sierra and in part to Bernard)

I have no problem with Obama traveling to Africa with his entourage and scolding that government for its weak response to the AIDS crisis there, but what exactly has he contributed to the discussion of the crisis of African-Americans battling AIDS?

Are you saying he's incapable of multi-tasking?

Are you saying he's incapable of multi-tasking?

"In America today, AIDS is virtually a black disease, by any measure," says Phill Wilson, executive director of The Black AIDS Institute in Los Angeles. Wilson also points out that while many black American leaders and celebrities have embraced the cause of the epidemic's toll in Africa, few have devoted similar energy to the crisis here at home.

http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=2346857&page=1

Kudos to him, but which effort do you suppose has gained him the most publicity?

Quote:

"In America today, AIDS is virtually a black disease, by any measure," says Phill Wilson, executive director of The Black AIDS Institute in Los Angeles. Wilson also points out that while many black American leaders and celebrities have embraced the cause of the epidemic's toll in Africa, few have devoted similar energy to the crisis here at home.

http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=2346857&page=1

Obama participated in a Q&A dealing with AIDS among the Black community.

He makes daily headlines for traveling to Africa, and is seen by some here as a virtual genius for taking a public HIV test.

Kudos to him, but which effort do you suppose has gained him the most publicity?

I think Wilson, as quoted above, is right to point out the lack of attention paid to the crisis involving black Americans by leaders in the black community, but that's just my opinion.

If you were the President, what would be the top five Executive Orders, policies or other positions you would take to end the epidemic, improve treatment, lower transmission rates and so on?

This is not an easy task, and given that the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to evolve, what may seem logical today may not be a top priority tomorrow. In addition, successful eradication is unlikely without a comprehensive, large-scale societal investment in improving the educational and economic opportunities of our most vulnerable populations, which are disproportionately affected by this disease. That being said, my top five priorities are the following:

1. Strengthening the public health infrastructure.
We know that the federal government's investment in prevention is only a fraction of its investment in medical care and treatment. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is just one example of this administration being "penny-wise and pound-foolish." This nation must increase its investment in the federal and state public health agencies, and equally important, in our community-based organization partners who are truly the foot-soldiers in this prevention war against AIDS.

2. Promoting screening for HIV/AIDS.
Studies have indicated that about one-fourth of Americans infected with HIV are unaware of their status, and these individuals will continue to transmit the deadly infection. These individuals need to be identified, educated and treated.

3. Expanding coverage for HIV/AIDS treatment and services.
A number of programs, particularly the Ryan White CARE Act, have helped so many individuals get the care they need, allowing them to remain healthy, and live longer and more productive lives. Yet, so many individuals continue to fall through the cracks, and the overall federal investment is inadequate given the scope and magnitude of the epidemic.

4. Supporting research for novel drugs and treatments.
HIV has continued to mutate, thwarting vaccine-development efforts and rendering many of our current treatments ineffective. The federal government must continue to support and accelerate research for development of effective medications and treatments, which should include microbicides which hold tremendous promise for HIV prevention for women.

5. Providing comprehensive sex education.
Promotion of abstinence from sex outside of monogamous relationships must be part of any successful HIV-prevention strategy, but it cannot be the entire strategy. Information about condoms and other effective tools must be made readily available. We are losing the battle against the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and we cannot allow partisan politics to trump sound, scientific policies.

But I see some room for optimism that he's gonna run, there.

which should include microbicides which hold tremendous promise for HIV prevention for women.

Quote:

which should include microbicides which hold tremendous promise for HIV prevention for women.

Obama's comment makes little or no scientific sense.

SierraSong wrote:

Kudos to him, but which effort do you suppose has gained him the most publicity?

Whose fault is that?