Obama, “I know how it feels to have malaria because I have had malaria…”
About 200 people gathered at the Boys and Girls Club in Waterloo, Iowa, for Senator Obama’s townhall meeting on Thursday. The weather could not have been nicer. The senator even joked that he was happy to be back and “this time it is warm.” he said laughing. I was there in my ONE T-shirt to welcome Senator Obama. A group of people was escorted to sit right behind the stage where the senator was standing. One of the staff asked me to join the group behind the stage. People were chanting and waving those big “O”s as the senator entered the room.
Senator Obama spoke about 45 minutes, elaborating his plans for education, global health and poverty. Although the senator did not mention the ONE Campaign, his speech had all the right words for ONE’s mission. He talked about fighting poverty by investing in education. He continued by explaining how lack of education and poverty are related.
He spoke about how America has to invest in global health to fight disease such as AIDS and malaria; “I know how it feels to have malaria because I have had malaria.” He continued, “we could fight malaria by providing mosquito nets. A mosquito net cost about $3.00, which would be a great investment because it can be used for an entire year and more…” Senator Obama told the audience how he has seen people go without food, “not even a loaf of bread,” he said.
At the end of his speech, audience had a chance to ask questions. One question was right to the point; he was asked what specifically he would do as president to fight AIDS. His response was, “In my administration, I will double the funds to fight HIV/AIDS.”
After the event, I was able to thank senator Obama for his support for ONE. I told him that his speech was right to the point for ONE mission. He shook my hand and replied, “of course.”
-Natalie Sugira
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October 6, 2007 at 3:24 am
Hopefully Senator Obama as President would not only continue current U.S. funding levels and country priorities, including his ancestral Kenya, but also expand funding and country coverage. For example, Nigeria, the most highly populated country in Africa and with the biggest malaria burden, was not included in the current President’s Malaria Initiative. According to the quotation above, the Senator notes that the insecticide treated nets that cost around US $3.00 can be used for an entire year or more. In fact it is the ‘or more’ that is the reality and thus, makes investment by governments, donors, philanthropists, corporations and other partners in nets for all a great economic benefit, enabling families to afford that ‘loaf of bread’ and more.