AIDS in Africa: Will Bush's Efforts Succeed?

Another thing that President Bush probably deserves praise for is his effort to combat AIDS in Africa. Liberal groups are upset that Bush funnels the money through groups that emphasize abstinence. There is a doctor in the Philippines who blogs as Boinky. Her name is Nancy Reyes, and her fine blog can be read here. I respect her views very much. She has worked in Africa. Here is what she had to say recently in a comment on another blog.

Actually, the abstinence stuff is only culture war. The dirty little secret is that some groups who push legalizing abortion and condoms and allowing teenagers to be sexually active combine these agendas with their HIV treatment. By funding them, this allows them to bully governments and church hospitals to promote their agenda, killing two birds (Promoting their political agenda and bashing the Catholics) at the same time.

Yet their approach offends the conservative Christian and Muslim Africans.

By promoting abstinence it not only allows church clinics to be active in the HIV fight, but allows society to stigmatize bad behavior, which leads to a decrease in that behavior.

In Asia, what works best is promoting morality by government and church/mosque/temple HIV programs, while letting smaller NGO's work with the outcasts of society.

As for "safe sex", condoms deteriorate in the heat and are rarely used.

I worked in Africa, and live in Asia. Has anyone noted the low HIV rate in the Philippines might be due to abstinence?

Remember when Bush said he would spend $15 billion in Africa to combat AIDS? He has actually spent over $18 billion, and today asked Congress for an additonal $30 billion over the next five years.

Remember Bill Clinton, our "first Black President?" What did he do about AIDS in Africa?

Update: Oh,Oh! Since I realized I had not been to Dr.Reyes' blog recently, I paid her a visit and read an essay she wrote yesterday. In it she points out that America has been providing Egypt with air-conditioned tanks. Why? So the next time they attack Israel they will be successful?