Waiting For The Catch...

This seems like it should be a good thing:

With President Bush's announcement yesterday of $1.2 billion for a five-year campaign against malaria in Africa, this mosquito-borne disease is finally getting the high-level attention it deserves. The wonder is that it took so long. This ancient scourge is so deadly and pervasive, and effective remedies are so cheap, that there is no justification for the world's past indifference.

(snip)

Africa's economic losses from malaria are about $12 billion a year. The toll could be cut in half by spending only $3 billion a year for such things as insecticide-treated bed nets, preventive drugs and early treatment. Still, that amount is well beyond the means of the most affected poor African nations.

If Congress delivers on Mr. Bush's promises - and it should - the new program will provide tens of millions of dollars to three African countries in the first year, eventually expanding to $1.2 billion for 15 countries where 175 million people are at risk.

I look forward to the administration's explanations of how abstinence education is the key to eliminating malaria...