United Press International - May 22, 2000
Paul Singer

Mbeki himself denied that he had ever disputed the efficacy of the AIDS drug AZT, despite the fact that his comments were widely circulated in the press last month. "I've never said that," Mbeki told reporters at a White House reception. "Pure invention."

White House officials speaking on condition of anonymity said that the presidents in their meeting Monday agreed that fighting AIDS in Africa also requires addressing the poverty and lack of infrastructure in African nations that allows AIDS and other diseases to thrive.

One administration official said the presidents had "a good discussion on how we can move forward to tackle AIDS and poverty at the same time." The discussion focused on ways to address "some of the underlying issues such as healthcare infrastructure [and] the need for communication systems in some of these countries with which to provide the education."

Administration officials who attended the meeting said Clinton did not engage Mbeki in a discussion about the South African's doubts about AZT, but instead talked about "how to move forward" with joint programs to address AIDS and poverty throughout sub-Saharan Africa. These officials said Mbeki in no way suggested doubts about moving ahead with a joint program based on conventional AIDS medications like AZT.

One White House source said affordability of drugs is a critical issue for Africa, but that even drugs like AZT may not be enough solve the problem in Africa, where AIDS infection has reached epidemic proportions. "In Uganda, for instance, to treat with AZT every infected person in the country would cost $2.2. billion, which they basically don't have." The question then becomes how to best respond to the epidemic with the resources the country has at its disposal.

In this context, administration officials say there may be a great benefit in lower-cost projects, such as improving the supply of clean drinking water.

Some activists say the real issue the United States needs to address is the relatively low level of assistance African nations receive from Washington. "There's not nearly enough [assistance] money anywhere in Africa said C. Payne Lucas, director of the non-profit group Africare. "Our bilateral aid program is $800 million for a continent of 750 million people," Lucas said.

Lucas said, "The biggest thing now in Congress is to get the AIDS assistance proposals though." The House has approved a bill offered by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee to create a trust fund at the World Bank to fund AIDS assistance in Africa. The trust fund would accept donations from nations and organizations, and the United States would agree to donate $500 million over five years.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., has introduced a similar measure that is pending before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"Africa has got vast potential, but it needs serious help with AIDS," Lucas said. Other development initiatives are "not going to work unless they get a handle on the AIDS question."
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