Top mission leaders of The United Methodist Church have commended President George W. Bush for making AIDS prevention and treatment a major priority on his early July tour of Africa.

Bishop Joel N. Martinez of San Antonio, president of the agency, and the Rev. R. Randy Day, general secretary, also expressed appreciation in a letter to the President for a U.S. commitment of $15 billion to fights AIDS in Africa. And they pointed to extensive anti-AIDS work being done by the denomination. They wrote:

Our United Methodist Church—your Church--has struggled with the AIDS crisis in Africa for many years. We have been particularly attentive to the impact upon mothers and children. Our programs deal with AIDS education, prevention and patient treatment. Our organizations and congregations in Africa are active in service provision. We have also recruited and equipped short-term mission personnel to assist in programs of AIDS education and patient care. United Methodists have contributed almost $8 million dollars to a special Hope for the Children of Africa fund that includes health concerns.

The letter noted that Radio Africa International, a service of the General Board of Global Ministries, includes programming on AIDS and other health related issues and that a special section of the board’s website is devoted to AIDS in Africa.

Bishop Martinez and Mr. Day urged the President to assure that the U.S. Africa AIDS funds be distributed in a broad and equitable way to achieve humanitarian objectives.

They expressed the hope that the U.S. government will utilize the skill of non-profit and faith-based organizations in the work against AIDS in Africa. They said that the General Board of Global Ministries stands ready to be a partner in achieving the humanitarian objectives of the AIDS program President Bush has initiated.

Contributions to fight AIDS in African can be made to Hope for the Children of Africa, through the ADVANCE, number 101000. One hundred percent of ADVANCE gifts go to the ministry indicated.

The Board website on AIDS in Africa is located at http://gbgm-umc.org/health/aidsafrica.

The full text of the letter to the White House follows:

July 15, 2003

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We commend and thank you for making AIDS a priority concern on your tour of Africa this month. Your discussion of AIDS with national leaders and the visit you and Mrs. Bush made to the TASO clinic in Uganda have helped to bring to global prominence this enormous health challenge.

We are grateful for the $15 billion program of U.S. assistance to combat AIDS in Africa outlined earlier in the year by your Administration. We are hopeful that your tour will have positive impact upon the U.S. House of Representatives in allocating the full three billion dollars you have requested for this year.

Our United Methodist Church—your Church--has struggled with the AIDS crisis in Africa for many years. We have been particularly attentive to the impact upon mothers and children. Our programs deal with AIDS education, prevention and patient treatment. Our organizations and congregations in Africa are active in service provision. We have also recruited and equipped short-term mission personnel to assist in programs of AIDS education and patient care. United Methodists have contributed almost $8 million dollars to a special Hope for the Children of Africa fund that includes health concerns.

Radio Africa International, a service of the General Board of Global Ministries, puts heavy emphasis on AIDS and other health related issues. The board also maintains an extensive Internet website on AIDS in Africa for international education. The site includes information on medical, social, and political aspects of the problem.

We realize that the distribution of billions of dollars to fight AIDS is a complex task. We pray that the assistance program of the United States will keep humanitarian needs foremost and will provide funds in a broad and equitable manner.

Many non-profit and faith-based organizations have considerable experience in combating AIDS in Africa and we hope that the U.S. assistance program will make use of their expertise. The General Board of Global Ministries stands ready to be a partner in achieving the humanitarian objectives of the program you have initiated.

Thank you again for your leadership in response to AIDS in Africa.

Most sincerely,

Bishop Joel N. Martinez President

R. Randy Day General Secretary

	See Also... Topic: Advocacy |  AIDS/HIV |  Children |  Education |  GBGM news |  Health |  Human rights |  International affairs |  United Methodist Church |  Geographic Region: United States |  Source: GBGM Press Releases
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GBGM's website on AIDS in Africa View Listing of Missionaries Currently Working in: United States |

Date posted: Jul 15, 2003