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Hope for Africa

by Catherine Gordon

Residents at the Tumaini Home for Orphans with AIDS
with Global Exchange participant Kitch Schatzer;

As the poorest continent on earth, Africa is plagued by a variety of problems. The average life expectancy in Africa is only 47 years and in countries ravaged by the AIDS epidemic, merely 30 years. In sub-Saharan Africa one out of every three people does not get enough food to eat each day. Only one third of the children complete elementary school and one in 50 have the opportunity to go to college. While most of the world has grown healthier and richer, 20 African countries are poorer today than they were 20 years ago.

More than 17 million Africans have died from AIDS. Approximately 28.1 million are infected with HIV, 1.5 of whom are children. Every 25 seconds another African is infected with the HIV virus and the lifesaving pharmaceuticals available in wealthy countries are still out of reach for Africans. Health care and education receive little to no funding in these countries, while the gross national product pays off international debts. African farmers cannot compete with the products of the more developed countries or their products are simply not allowed into our markets. These and other problems keep Africa in a quagmire that seems hopeless.

The HIPC (Heavily Indebted Poor Country) initiative brings hope and relief to a few African countries; its primary aim of debt reduction is paired with poverty reduction, promoting a sustainable future. The people of Africa need the United States government to support further debt relief so their money can be channeled to poverty relief, health care and education. Such initiatives establish use of Africa's own resources and simultaneously decrease poverty and reliance on foreign aid.

While the statistics coming out of Africa can be overwhelming, there are many examples where people and churches and governments have made a difference. As Christians and Presbyterians we must pray for Africa and learn about and reflect on the root causes of
Africa's troubles.

Catherine Gordonis the associate for international issues for the Presbyterian Washington Office.

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Join the Washington Office list serve on Africa to be updated about specific legislation where you can make a difference. Email washafrica-request@halak.pcusa.org to join the list serve.

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Learn more about the HIPC initiative, http://www.worldbank.org/hipc/

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For more information, contact the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington Office, 110 Maryland Ave. NE,
Washington, DC 20002; 202/543-1126; fax 202/543-7755; www.pcusa.org.

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