President Bush has announced plans to send additional aid to African nations to fight the scourge of Malaria, increase education and the legal rights of women.
The president said he plans to double the annual amount spent by the United States to fight malaria in Africa which currently stands at $230 million.
'In the overwhelming majority of cases,' he said, 'the victims are less than five years old, their lives suddenly ended by nothing more than a mosquito bite,' Bush said.
Bush said he saw a potentially great future for Africa. 'After years of colonization and Marxism and racism, [Africa] is on the threshold of great advances.' He spoke of 'an unprecedented opportunity to help other nations achieve historic victories over extreme poverty.'
The announcement was made in advance of next week's G-8 summit which will be held at Gleneagles resort in Scotland. The issue of debt forgiveness for Africa by developed nations and additional programs to fight disease and poverty will be on the agenda.
In addition to malaria aid, the president said he would double to $400 million monies donated to train teachers in Africa and to provide scholarships for young people.
Malaria killed more than 1 million people in Africa last year alone. The anti-malaria campaign will focus on Tanzania, Uganda and Angola.
