Announcements and Headlines from Investing in Our Future at the U.S.-Africa Summit

Announcements:

• Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon Helps Accelerate Life-Saving Cervical Cancer Screening in Ethiopia and Namibia 
  President George W. Bush today announced the launch of Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon in Ethiopia and Namibia, and introduced the first group of Ambassadors for the public-private partnership. 

• Investments Announced at Symposium for African Spouses Hosted by First Lady Michelle Obama and Former First Lady Laura Bush
  The investments announced at the symposium total more than $200 million to support programs fostering improved education, health, and economic opportunity for more than 1 million Africans across the continent.

• Updates on the Deliverable Announcements Made at the 2013 African First Ladies Summit
  At the Bush Institute’s African First Ladies Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in July 2013, a number of key new initiatives were announced.  The outcomes of the announcements are encouraging. Combined, these organizations and their programs have raised over $18 million and reached over 4.3 million women and children worldwide.

Transcript:

• Remarks by President George W. Bush at Investing in Our Future at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit

Headlines:

• The Washington Post: Michelle Obama and Laura Bush promote the power of first ladies
  “Together publicly for the second time in just over a year, the women again pushed the notion that spouses of world leaders are leaders in their own right.”

• CNN: George W. Bush calls on Africa’s ‘first spouses’ to break down stigmas in fighting cancer, AIDS
  “Bush discussed his institute’s efforts to fight AIDS with programs like Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon – which provides screenings to women at high risk for cancer.”

• New York Times: Bush Urges Renewed Fight Against Deadly Diseases in Africa
  “Former President George W. Bush made a rare return to the nation’s capital on Wednesday to rally world leaders behind a public health campaign to conquer killer diseases in Africa and to forecast what he called ‘the beginning of the end of AIDS.'”

• Associated Press: Obama, Bush first ladies press for girls’ education
  “Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, first ladies from different generations and opposing political parties, spoke with one voice Wednesday on the importance of educating women and girls worldwide, saying countries will be more prosperous as a result.”

• CBS News: Michelle Obama: “We have to fight for our girls”
  “First lady Michelle Obama and former first lady Laura Bush reflected on the platform they have as the wives of world leaders at a day-long symposium focusing ways to boost investments in education, health and economic development through public-private partnerships.”

• Dallas Morning News: Michelle Obama and Laura Bush banter and promote African girls and women
  “The daylong first ladies’ event was a highlight of a three-day U.S. Africa Leaders Summit that has drawn nearly 50 heads of state. For Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, who share an in interest in promoting education, opportunity and health of African women and girls, it was a chance to continue a partnership.”

• The Hill: Bush makes AIDS plea in rare DC visit
  “Bush, speaking at an African Leaders Summit event in Washington attended by the spouses of many of the continent’s leaders, said too many people in Africa are dying because they don’t seek treatment for diseases.”

Learn more about the Summit