2007 Archive

WASHINGTON – A delegation representing the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) and its African Globalism Committee arrived today in South Africa for a weeklong trip to visit health-related sites and conduct meetings with government health officials in that country.

The delegation is led by Elsie L. Scott, Ph.D., the Foundation’s president and chief executive officer, and two members of Congress who also serve on the organization’s board of directors, Rep. Barbara Lee of California and Del. Donna M. Christensen of the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Rep. Lee serves as chairwoman of the African Globalism Committee, which seeks to reconnect Africans throughout the African diaspora, including but not limited to the United States, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. The congresswoman and the committee have aggressively sought to impact U.S. policy towards the African diaspora, particularly health.

Del. Christensen, a physician, serves as chairwoman of both the CBCF Public Health Committee and the Congressional Black Caucus’ Health Braintrust, which oversees and advocates minority health issues nationally and internationally. She and Dr. Scott are scheduled to take part in World AIDS Day activities on Dec. 1; the congresswoman is slated to deliver a keynote address that day.

The delegation is also scheduled to, among other things, meet with Ambassador Eric M. Bost and Deputy Chief of Mission Donald Teitelbaum at the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria; meet with South African Minister of Education Naledi Pandor; meet with Vice Chancellor Ihron Rensburg and faculty at the University of Johannesburg; visit the Johnson & Johnson Burn Treatment Centre and attend a global business coalition breakfast in Johannesburg; and visit with students and volunteers at the Rosa Parks Library and take part in HIV testing in Soweto.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation was established in 1976 as a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public policy, research and education institute intended to help improve the socio-economic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities. CBCF has a critical role to play in ensuring that the African continent becomes an important global strategic partner to the United States in military and intelligence efforts, energy security and in trade and investment.

“With our focus on public health, leadership education and economic development, CBCF has become a recognized authority in the United States. Now, we want to expand our reach beyond our shores,” Dr. Scott said. “During this trip, Congresswoman Lee, Congresswoman Christensen and I want to develop relationships that will ultimately net access to a dynamic pool of quality programs and services geared toward empowering black people and other underserved populations overseas.”