AFRO-NETS> Newsweek: AIDS in Africa (1)

[Ron MacInnis <RMACINNIS@globalhealth.org>]

Newsweek: AIDS in Africa (1)
----------------------------

* Majority of Americans Somewhat Unaware of AIDS/HIV Crisis; 
* Only 18 Percent Correctly Estimate Actual Cases as Over 30 Million
* Clinton Passed Speech on African AIDS Crisis to Gore to 'Get More
  Attention'
* At U.N. Security Council Meeting, But Black, Gay Votes Also in Mind
* Some Black Activists Say African-American Leaders Not Doing Enough
  To Combat 'Sexual Holocaust'

NEW YORK, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- A 55 percent majority of U.S. adults 
say they have personally seen little or nothing about the AIDS crisis 
in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new Newsweek poll.  And only 18 
percent of Americans correctly estimate the total number of dead or 
dying of AIDS/HIV in the region so far as over 30 million. More than 
six in 10 Americans criticize Africans themselves (63%) and African 
governments (72%) for failing to do enough to solve this problem. 
Fifty-seven percent say that the United Nations is not doing its fair 
share, while half (50%) similarly criticize the United States for not 
doing enough. 
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000108/HSSA011

Nearly six in 10 (59%) of Americans are in favor of the U.S. getting 
involved with the problem of African AIDS orphans. By the end of 
2000, over 10 million African children under 15 will have lost their 
mothers or both parents to AIDS, but only 4 percent think the U.S. 
should take the lead in dealing with the crisis. Americans are most 
likely to feel African countries working in unison (34%), interna-
tional charities (25%) or the United Nations (21%) should take the 
lead role.

The poll accompanies a Newsweek special report, "10 Million Orphans", 
in the January 17 issue (on newsstands Monday, January 10). An out-
spoken advocate on the topic of Africa's AIDS crisis is Boston minis-
ter and activist Eugene Rivers, who accuses black American leaders of 
collectively turning their backs on those suffering in Africa, re-
ports Contributing Editor Ellis Cose.

Rivers even believes that some of those in the black elite who do 
grasp the situation may worry that highlighting AIDS in Africa rein-
forces negative stereotypes. "As I talked to folks around the coun-
try," Rivers says, "there was a sense that we can't handle another 
story about blacks as basket cases," reports Senior Writer Jeffrey 
Bartholet in another article in the special report. He and other ac-
tivists later issued an open letter to U.S. black religious, intel-
lectual and political leaders castigating them for doing too little: 
"What verdict will our descendants render upon their ancestors who 
stood by silently as a generation of African children were reduced to 
a biological underclass by this sexual holocaust?" the letter asked. 

But help may be on the way from Washington. Newsweek has learned that 
the administration's new Africa aid proposal was originally planned 
as part of President Bill Clinton's Jan. 27 State of the Union 
speech. But the president has made Vice President Al Gore's election 
a priority and is keenly aware of the veep's need for black and gay 
support. 

At the suggestion of U.N. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, Clinton de-
cided that Gore should take up the issue himself at the United Na-
tions "on the grounds it would get more attention," says a senior of-
ficial. 

Americans are split on whether the U.S. should take specific steps to 
help African AIDS orphans. Half of all Americans (50%) are in favor 
of changing immigration laws to allow more of these orphans to enter 
the country, with 42 percent opposed to such changes. Public opinion 
is evenly divided, 46% in favor vs. 46% opposed, on whether we should 
spend more tax dollars specifically to help these orphans. Not sur-
prisingly, there are racial divisions among Americans in public opin-
ion about AIDS in the affected region of sub-Saharan Africa.  

Non-whites are more likely than whites to criticize the United States 
(62% vs. 48%) and United Nations (70% vs. 56%) for not doing enough. 
Majorities of non-whites favor spending more tax dollars on African 
AIDS orphans (73%) and spending more on Africa in general (72%). Six 
in 10 non-whites (59%) favor changing immigration laws to help AIDS 
orphans. For this Newsweek Poll, Princeton Survey Research Associates 
interviewed 753 adults nationwide, 18 years and older on January 6-7, 
2000. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus four percentage 
points, larger for smaller subgroups. 
(Read Newsweek's news releases at: http://www.Newsweek.com
Click "Pressroom".)

--
Ron MacInnis, Director
Global Health Council 
Global AIDS Program 
1701 K Street, NW Suite 600 
Washington, DC 20006 ,USA
Tel: +1-202-833-5900 
Fax: +1-202-833-0075 
mailto:RMACINNIS@globalhealth.org
http://www.globalhealth.org


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