[afro-nets] Conference on Mosquito/Malaria Control (2)

[Daniela Schöneburg <daniela@az.com.na>]

Conference on Mosquito/Malaria Control (2)
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Dear Bill,

What leads you to the conclusion, that "nobody gives a damn"?
Furthermore, you should say who actually is supposed to give
more than a damn. Who is responsible for whom? Did you ever live
in a developing country? Did you? If not, you should try this
for at least a year.

In Namibia the former President Sam Nujoma initiated the con-
struction of a real, "presidential palace" for about 500 Mio Na-
mibia-Dollar (83,333 Mio US$) - and the cost are still rising.
The City of Windhoek is still not paid for the huge area, on
which that new State House (a big modern hospital would fit in
without problems) is situated. The whole state budget in 2004
was about 12,802,88 Mio. Namibia-Dollar. (The German chancellor
for instance lives in a normal-sizes house in a normal neighbor-
hood in Hannover.) About two Million people living in Namibia
(size is about France and Germany together), administrated by 22
ministries. Twenty-two! They are headed by a crowd of well-paid
officials (well paid in European terms).

What I am trying to illustrate is, that the control of diseases
and the well being of the people too it is mainly a matter of
political will in those poor miserable developing countries. The
political leaders don't give a damn in many cases. Did this ever
occur to you?

In the case of Namibia I must say that, the new Namibian Presi-
dent left since its inception a good impression, tackling cor-
ruption and self-enrichment. So far I am already a fan of
Hifikepunye Pohamba, hope for the best and wait for the
IMPLEMENTATION. This is the key-issue for the south.

Best regards and a nice weekend,
Daniela Schöneburg
mailto:daniela@az.com.na