Brad 'listens and learns'
2004-11-10 07:38
Addis Ababa - Actors Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston spent four days in Ethiopia to learn more about Aids in Africa as part of a fundraising campaign to combat the disease on the world's poorest continent, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The trip was organised by Data, a Washington-based lobby group co-founded by rock star Bono, which campaigns on third world trade, debt and HIV/Aids.
The couple, who are married, began their first visit to the Horn of Africa country on Friday and left late on Monday night.
"It was a listening and learning visit," said Data spokesperson Jamie Drummond. He declined repeated requests for comment from Pitt or Aniston.
While in Ethiopia, Pitt and Aniston visited local projects fighting the spread of HIV. They also met with eight top Ethiopian singers, who have collaborated on songs to educate people about HIV and to raise money for Aids programmes.
Tsedenia Gebremarkos, who has just released a hit album in Ethiopia, said Pitt was keen to know how Aids had affected the nation, one of the poorest on earth where average annual incomes are just US$100.
"He was very humble and really interested in the situation here," Tsedenia said. "We hope his popularity can raise awareness in the same way we are trying to. We need the support of people like him."
In Africa, 29.4 million people are living with the virus, which has left 25 million children orphaned, according to UN figures. Bone has travelled the world spreading the message that more than 6 000 Africans die every day from Aids, while 8 000 new people are infected daily.
Only about 50 000 Africans get potentially life-saving drugs, known as anti-retrovirals, while at least four million people need the drugs, which cost more than most Africans earn.
- AP