Bush Breaks Loose to Raise Malaria Awareness

In the White House Rose Garden, President Bush joined his wife to attend a ceremony to recognize Malaria Awareness Day.

There, he joined the KanKouran West African dance company at the end of the ceremony.



While Bush’s drumbeat isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, it’s nice to see the lighter side of Washington every so often.

There has been tremendous progress in fighting malaria since DDT was reintroduced by the World Health Organization. According to South African national health spokesman Charity Bhengu, malaria cases have dropped by 65% and malaria deaths dropped by 73% within the country.

Although fervent environmentalists pushed for a ban on DDT in the 1970s - arguing that it was harmful and cancerous to children – the plusses outweighed its minuses, paving way for its reintroduction.

In the President’s speech, Bush announced that 500,000 insecticide-laced bed nets would be sent to Zambia and Uganda. The bed nets are about $10 in retail value, and have been a proven means of prevention for the disease. US officials believe the current two-year-old anti-malaria program has already helped an estimated 11 million Africans.

President Bush ensured America’s commitment to combat malaria.

"On this special day, we renew our commitment to lead the world toward an urgent goal, and that is to turn the tide against malaria in Africa, and around the globe."

The plan strives to cut the mortality rate in half.