Africa Continues to Obtain Hand-Outs From US – What is Next?

Historically, America has been generous to other parts of the world; especially to third world nations such as Africa. Organizations in the U.S such as USAID and others raise millions of dollars annually for various causes such as fighting HIV/AID, “Malaria no more”, and much more; but nothing has changed as a result. Non profits raise millions of dollars annually in the name of poor African nations, as the problems prolonged despite all donated funds.

According to an article written by Kathryn McConnell in December 2006 on America.gov, a nonprofit organization “malaria no more”, launched a campaign with the White House in 2005 in an effort to campaign against malaria worldwide. Since then, they have raised millions of dollars as they work with the U.S “president’s malaria initiative” PMI.

The PMI’s program is a $1.2 billion program focusing on fighting malaria in 15 most affected countries by providing bed nets, investing in vaccination to fight malaria after infection and teaching locals how to use pesticides. President Bush announced December 14 2006 that eight more countries would receive U.S. support to defeat malaria — Ghana, Madagascar, Mali, Zambia, Kenya, Liberia, Ethiopia and Benin. PMI’s support goes to providing families with insecticides-treated bed nets and training on how to use them. The initiative also provides support for bed-net distribution and indoor spraying, effective and fast-acting malaria-treatment medicine and malaria-preventive medicine for pregnant women.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation contributed $83 million in grants for promising vaccine research, making treatment programs available and affordable and expanding its model malaria-control program in Zambia. Since 1995, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have provided $642 million to fight malaria in Zambia, according to the organization.

Exxon Mobile contributed $10 million in 2006 and these organizations continue to emancipate funding to nonprofit organizations-however, the problems haven’t vanished, rather worst. Amongst all programs initiated against malaria, none stated how they intended to work towards abolishing the cause of malaria. Treating the wound as the sore continues to progress- starting with the origin of the sore might be effective. This is not a campaign against nonprofits, rather a campaign to ask nonprofits to start doing the right thing-eliminate the tribulations.

The first White House Summit on Malaria also featured first lady Laura Bush and leaders of government, business, faith-based and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). They came together to discuss ways to raise awareness about malaria and to announce commitments of additional resources to help defeat the disease. Laura Bush said, “Malaria which once affected the southeastern part of the United States, was eliminated from the country nearly 60 years ago; if we conquered it before, we can do it again”.

How was it conquered in the southeastern part of the U.S and how do they intend to conquer it now in Africa besides only investing in the following?

1. Providing nets and insecticides and show families how to use them
2. Fund studies on treatment of malaria and new vaccinations.

Given an example, we can end malaria by enhancing the sanitation sectors in these countries; exonerate all sources of mosquitoes such as stagnant water.

After several interviews with few African families now residing in the U.S by the YGI Team, they feel insulted by the “PMI” and “malaria no more”- as they claimed to use pesticides, insecticides, nets as well as took preventions to keep mosquitoes away from their homes without an aid from the above organizations. They went further saying that pesticides were expensive, therefore they went without at times; but they improvised by burning mosquito coils in every corner of the house as all doors were kept closed to avoid mosquitoes from entering the house; however, they all used nets since those were cheaper.

As of their opinion regarding the report on America.gov, “It is absolutely false and a show-off as usual, most nonprofit organizations raise millions in the U.S just for photo up opportunity, but they accomplish very little or nothing at all in Africa”.

Mariama Diallo a student from Africa in the U.S said: “It is insulting to Africans to read such claims, as if to say Africans do not know how to buy and use insecticides, pesticides and nets”. She continued saying that it was always a joint effort of an entire family to keep mosquitoes out of the house by using the above remedies mentioned by most Africans. Millions of dollars were raised for this cause and malaria is still widespread in Nigeria, Liberia, Ghana, Gambia, Ethiopia and other African Nations amongst the 15 countries mentioned.

Since 1995 to present, malaria is endemic throughout Zambia and continues to be a major public health problem. The vicious cycle of hand-outs to African Nations must end; historically, handouts do not work, we must guide all people to a trail of economic sovereignty, it is the humane thing to do, please join us.