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Clinton's call for Africa
21/07/2007 21:11 - (SA)
Malawi - Former US President Bill Clinton urged "big people and governments" to do more for Africa to raise standards of the world's poorest continent as he opened a state-of-the-art hospital here.
"We can do better. What we are trying to do in this project is to show all the world's big people and governments around the world, including my own, that this could be done and could get good results," he said on Friday as he opened the hospital which will serve about 100 000 people in the rural district of Neno.
The 80-bed hospital was bankrolled by the Clinton foundation in partnership with Scottish multi-millionaire Tom Hunter at a cost of $70m.
"What is missing are opportunities, assistance and access to education and money for Africans to develop," said Clinton, who this week visited South Africa where he attended former president Nelson Mandela's birthday celebrations.
He is also expected to extend his charity work to Zambia and Tanzania as part of his African visit.
"Malawi, as one of the world's poorest nations, was a good example of what poor people face.
"There are few options and huge problems here with limited access to credit and road network for markets. Governments should do more," he added.
Hunter earlier told reporters that the charity would be spending $100m in 10 years between Malawi and Rwanda, two of the Africa's poorest countries, where they have also launched humanitarian projects.
"We are not just here to help Africa, but help Africans to help themselves with our funding. We are not here to create work for ourselves, we are trying to create jobs for Africans," Hunter said.
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