Bianca Jagger Works to Fight ‘Human Catastrophe’ of AIDS in Africa
In a London Independent profile yesterday, Bianca Jagger, former wife of Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, answered the public's questions about her involvement with charity group Christian Aid's work with AIDS in Africa, saying, "I realized that I could not close my eyes, look the other way, and pretend [the epidemic] was not happening. I want to draw attention to the human catastrophe that is ravaging the sub-Saharan region of Africa." She added her concern that "an entire generation of orphans is growing up without role models" and said, "It's no coincidence that it is in the poorest countries in Africa where the AIDS epidemic has its strongest grip. Many African governments are no longer able to provide basic health care." She called the failure of other countries to help fight AIDS in Africa "a moral outrage," saying, "The industrialized nations must help rebuild the health care and education systems, which must become free of charge for those who cannot afford it." Jagger said of Christian Aid, "It has grass-roots, community-led care programs, and I believe this is the most effective way of getting aid to those who need it. ... Christian Aid is calling [for] governments of the industrialized nations to increase the amount they give in overseas aid. Only with a massive concerted effort can we hope to avert the decimation of a continent" (Independent, 5/16).
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