Sen. Bill Frist Discusses AIDS, Debt Relief During African Tour
Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), while on a tour of four African countries, has met with a number of African officials to discuss the continent's AIDS crisis, the AP/Nashville Tennessean reports. During his "medical mission to Africa," Frist is traveling through Uganda, Sudan, Tanzania and Kenya. He met with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, telling him that he was "pleased at how well Uganda was using" the $120 million in U.S. aid the country received to fight HIV/AIDS. Frist also "praised" Museveni's efforts in fighting the epidemic and applauded him for mentioning the epidemic in "almost all of his speeches." Frist also met with U2 lead singer Bono yesterday to discuss AIDS and debt relief issues. Frist said it was "too early to say what legislative ideas might develop from his trip" (AP/Nashville Tennessean, 1/16). In June, Frist introduced legislation that would appropriate $700 million over two years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 6/14).
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