Remarks of Ambassador Harriet Babbitt, USAID Deputy Administrator

This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.

Remarks of Ambassador Harriet Babbitt, USAID Deputy Administrator
at the Somerset Hospital
Cape Town, South Africa
February 18, 1999

Thank you for inviting me to Somerset Hospital to see first hand the research being carried out on behalf of children -- especially in the areas of micronutrients and HIV/AIDS. Since I came to USAID as deputy administrator, child survival has been of special concern to me, and the research in these two areas of great interest.
The death of any child is a tragedy, and far too many of Africa’s children die. The deaths of young children are even more poignant in this beautiful land, so blessed with many natural resources. We must never forget that South Africa’s most precious resource – like America’s – is our children. This is an exciting time because we now have the knowledge and technology to combat a major contributor to child deaths --Vitamin A deficiency. It is also a frightening time. Even as we are learning new ways to save lives, HIV\AIDS is threatening the lives of children and leaving others orphaned, depriving them of the nurture and opportunities all parents want for their children.
AIDS is an issue that affects all areas of the world and all sectors of our societies -- sports, government, civil society, labor, entertainment and business. AIDS knows no boundaries.
This epidemic affects us in the United States just as it affects you here in South Africa. We are still battling our own HIV\AIDS epidemic. While not all of us are INFECTED with HIV, we are all AFFECTED by this disease. As Deputy President Mbeki said last October in announcing South Africa’s Partnership Against AIDS, "HIV\AIDS is not someone’s else’s problem. It is my problem. It is your problem."
We are partners in the worldwide effort to combat new HIV\AIDS infections, in research seeking better prevention and treatment, and in caring for those who are infected and their children.
Vice President Al Gore pledged the U.S. government’s commitment to support South Africa’s Partnership Against AIDS in a letter to Deputy President Mbeki on October 9^th last year.
That commitment was reiterated in a Sowetan newspaper article last December by U.S. Ambassador James Joseph and again by White House National AIDS Policy Director Sandy Thurman when she visited here last month.
As the deputy administrator of USAID, I would like to add my pledge to that of the Vice President. USAID is committed as a full and long-term partner in the campaign to fight HIV\AIDS in South Africa. Our initial commitment was made in July, 1997, for $10 million. I pledge to you today that I will seek additional resources as appropriate to augment our support in combating the epidemic. We must all stand together to battle this worldwide epidemic. Only by uniting our efforts and strengthening our partnerships, can we succeed. Combating Vitamin A deficiencies in children helps them fight a variety of infections, including HIV/AIDS. Even minor Vitamin A deficiency can increase the severity of many common diseases, from respiratory infections to measles and diarrhea, resulting in many preventable child deaths.
The research that first linked Vitamin A deficiency and child deaths was supported by USAID. Our agency has been the acknowledged global leader supporting Vitamin A research and program development for the past two decades.
Combating Vitamin A deficiency could save the lives of up to 1 million children each year worldwide, and prevent blindness in 500,000 children. Despite international agreement at the World Summit for Children to try to eliminate Vitamin A deficiency worldwide, more than 100 million children under the age of five worldwide continue to suffer from vitamin A deficiency. South Africa’s recent national health survey showed that one-third of children under six are Vitamin A deficient.
In recent years, research in eight countries has shown that Vitamin A can reduce child mortality by up to 30 percent. Responding to this compelling research, in November, 1997, USAID embarked upon a major new enhanced effort to increase the availability of vitamin A throughout the world.
We are pleased to have as partners in this effort the South African Vitamin A Consultative Group, which will be hosting the International Vitamin A Consultative Group (IVACG) next month in Durban. IVACG provides scientific and policy leadership for the international effort to eliminate Vitamin A deficiency from the list of major public health problems. This will be the first time it has met in South Africa.
We look forward to strengthening and expanding our partnerships with Soth African institutions to better understand and prevent Vitamin A deficiency. USAID is partnering with the University of Stellenbosch to carry out a national food consumption survey, and I look forward to other exploring further possibilities.
South Africa is poised to make major inroads in reducing Vitamin A deficiency through supplementation, fortification, and other dietary strategies. In the process, you will not only save lives and prevent many children from going blind, but will improve the health of children throughout the country.
Thank you.
This is an archived USAID document retained on this web site as a matter of public record.

Last Updated on: July 12, 2001