Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 18 November 1999 — Page 17

The Muncie Times, November 18, 1999, page 17

CFA seeks to forge links with Motherland

WASH INGTON, D. Ct he Constituency for Africa (CFA) and the Ronald H. Brown Foundation recently honored Congresswoman Barbara Lee (DCalif) and Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. In recognition of two historic African AIDS/HIV initiatives. Lee was honored for introducing legislation to fund the AIDS Marchall Plan for Africa and Bristol-Myers Squibb for its Secure the Future program, the largest international corporate commitment to support HIV/AIDS programs. Lee and Kenneth Weg, vice chairman of Bristol-Myers Squibb, received the “Constituent of the Year" awards, given to individuals or groups providing exemplary support for Africa in the United States at the ('.FA's annual African Leadership luncheon. Lee has introduced legislation to fund the AIDS Marshall Plan for Africa, proposed by former Congressman Ron Dellums, to provide grants for HIV/AIDS research, education, prevention and treatment to African governments and organizations and seek to provide a replicable model to deal with the AIDS crisis globallv. Secure the Future program is a 5-year, SI00 million commitment to help women and children with HIV/AIDS is South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho and Namibia. The program will help Africans find relevant, cost-effective and sustainable solutions for 111V/A IDS in .Africa through funding of medical research, community outreach and education, and education exchange programs. Secure the Future is a public-private partnership with the governments of each country, UNAIDS, Harvard AIDS Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, the Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA) and other African Schools of medicine, among others. “Both of these programs are stunning in their vision. Secure the Future is the single greatest example of corporate leadership in the global fight against AIDS. Nowhere is the need for research and outreach greater than in Africa and we are pleased to be able to commend Bristol-Myers Squibb for their willingness to exert a leadership role globally,” said Dellums, chairman of the board of CFA. “Rep. Lee’s legislation has the potential to change the face of AIDS in Africa and elsewhere. We believe that her proposal, along with programs like Secure the Future, will be the key to turning the tide for the people of Africa against the AIDS epidemic. The AIDS Marshall Plan for Africa would help to establish the U.S. as a world leader in the fight against AIDS in

“Rep. Lee's legislation has the potential to change the face of AIDS in Africa and elsewhere. We believe that her proposal, along until programs like Secure the Future, will be the key to turning the tide for the people of Africa against the AIDS epidemic. Ron Dellums, chairman of the board of CFA

Africa. We recognize her leadership and courage in bestowing this award.” President Benjamin Mkapa of Tanzania, and Sam K. Ongeri, M.D., minister of health for Kenya, spoke at the award luncheon, along with Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-NJ.) The Constituency for Africa, a nonprofit organization, educates U.S. citizens about Africa and its issues and forges cooperative efforts between American organizations, corporations, and groups and their African counterparts. Chaired by Dellums, CFA seeks to build organized support for Africa in the United States. jack Kemp is vice chair. Members of the board of directors include Ambassador Andrew Young, ex-New York Mayor, David Dinkins and Dr. Dorothy Heights, of the National Council of Negro Women. As part of the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Week, each September CFA hosts the Ronald H. Brown African Affairs Series, followed by the Constituent Award luncheon. The Washington, D.C.-based Ronald H. Brown Foundation was established in 1996 to carry on the late Commerce Secretary’s vision of achievement through opportunity. Its three-fold mission includes establishing the Center for Politics and Commercial Diplomacy; a Minority Business Roundtable and the creation of a Global Clearinghouse. Recently this vision was expanded to include fostering an outreach program with African nations.

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