Head of British Catholic aid agency discusses AIDS with Bush, Blair

Published: 2003-11-21

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) -- The new director of the British bishops' overseas aid agency met with U.S. President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and African officials to discuss the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Chris Bain, who earlier this year took over as director of the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, known as CAFOD, told Catholic News Service that the Nov. 20 meeting in London was useful and productive and that Bush and Blair were prepared to listen carefully to the views expressed. The president was accompanied by U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of State Colin Powell. Also present at the meeting were ministers from five African countries severely affected by AIDS: Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia. The meeting took place in Blair's London residence, No. 10 Downing St. The meeting saw the announcement of a new joint British-U.S. task force looking into the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. Bain told CNS that he urged Bush and Blair to recognize that HIV was not just a health issue.

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