White House holds call to discuss famine in the Horn of Africa

A post in the Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog highlights a White House call "with faith-based organizations Wednesday afternoon to discuss efforts in the Horn of Africa to combat the extensive famine brought on by a severe drought in the region, the worst seen in decades." The famine, which "has already claimed the lives of approximately 29,000 children," is being compounded by "a measles outbreak which is easily infecting children weakened by malnutrition," former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (D-Tenn.) said on the call, according to the blog (Mazzotta, 8/18).