[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 7 (Monday, February 25, 2008)]
[Pages 233-234]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks During a Visit to Amana District Hospital in Dar es Salaam

February 17, 2008

    President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of Tanzaniya. Mr. President, First 
Lady, my dear wife--Mr. President, welcome again to Amana Hospital. 
Well, let me use this opportunity to thank you so much, again, for 
PEPFAR, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
    Through PEPFAR, we got these two buildings, a facility we just 
visited and, again, this clinic. In Dar es Salaam, there are three of 
these buildings, one in each of the districts, and then we have five 
smaller ones. About 40 patients have been registered, and 24 are already 
on ARVs, because they are eligible. I'm not a doctor, but they say the 
levels of CD4 count, then they reach a certain level above 300, where 
they say, now they have got to go to start treatment.
    Well, the significance of this is the people we have around here. 
There is Tatu. She has her own story to tell, I'm sure. There is a 
couple--Steven, where is the wife? Where is your wife? Bring your wife 
here. This is Janet; this is Steven. They are a couple. And when she was 
pregnant, she was diagnosed as being HIV-positive. So then she came 
under care and treatment. The baby there is healthy.
    So we can see, these are some of the typical examples of the success 
of this kind--this program. Had they not--had there not been a program 
to test them, well, they might not be there. So one of the advantages is 
that their son is healthy; they are under treatment; they are healthy; 
they are doing their own work. So that son is lucky. He is not orphaned 
thanks to the PEPFAR program.
    And then we have--Honorati Shirima--yes, and ex-military, I'm told--
yes, retired. But I'm told when he came here, he was in very bad shape. 
He was in bad, bad shape. He was almost dying. So he started the program 
of ARVs, and you can see how he looks now. He looks healthy; he looks 
much better than what he was.
    So all that I can say, President, is words of appreciation and 
thanksgiving. It has done a tremendous job. You know Tatu; you know her 
story. She was in Congress recently. So

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I can tell you--this is what I can say to welcome you, is to thank you.

    President Bush. Thank you, sir.

    President Kikwete. Thank you so much for the initiative. It has done 
so much for our people. It has given a future--as I was saying this 
morning, many children now have been saved from being orphans, and the 
example is that man and this girl here. So thank you so much, Mr. 
President.

    President Bush. Well, Mr. President, thanks for having us. I really 
appreciate you suggesting a stop here at the Amana Hospital District. 
The American people have built two of the wings of this hospital, and I 
wanted to come here precisely to let the American people know how 
important their generosity is to the--to helping save lives.

    And doc, I thank you for setting up this meeting. We're so honored 
to be with the doctors and the healers as well as those who have been 
helped by the program. One of the main reasons that I want to make sure 
the American people know that this program is successful is because I 
want this program to continue to be funded. It's in our national 
interests that the American generosity continue beyond my Presidency.

    And so, Mr. President, one way to send a clear message to the good 
people of our country is that their generosity is saving lives. And we 
really appreciate those whose lives have been saved to come and share 
their stories. And Tatu, it's good to see you again. She was at the 
State of the Union Address, she and Faith, sitting with Laura and our 
two daughters. And your smile is bright today as it was then. [Laughter] 
So it's good to see you. And doctor, thank you.

    President Kikwete. She has hope. Now she has hope for the future.

    President Bush. She has hope and Faith. [Laughter]

Note: The President spoke at 1:35 p.m. In his remarks, he referred to 
Chalamilla E. Guerino, field director of HIV and AIDS care and 
treatment, Amana District Hospital; and Tatu Msangi, registered nurse, 
Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, and her daughter, Faith Mang'ehe. 
President Kikwete referred to his wife, Salma Kikwete of Tanzania.