At library dedication, U.S. presidents praise Bush for work on HIV/AIDS, malaria while in office

Last week, "[t]he George W. Bush Presidential Library dedication brought together five living presidents who have been at odds about much of the 43rd president's foreign policy legacy, particularly the Iraq war ... [b]ut they all agreed on, and offered effusive praise for, Bush's work on Africa," ABC News' "The Note" blog reports. "From the historic peace agreement between Sudan and South Sudan in 2005, to Bush's work on HIV/AIDS and malaria, all the presidents, regardless of party, thanked No. 43 for his involvement in African policies and issues," the blog states, noting, "His administration's aid was largely targeted to fight the major global health issues facing the continent, HIV/AIDS and malaria." ABC News discusses the creation of PEPFAR and the President's Malaria Initiative and includes comments from some of the speakers at the dedication. "Since leaving office the former president and his wife, Laura, have continued to stay active in global health issues in Africa, now taking on cancer," the blog notes, adding, "The George W. Bush Institute has launched the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon initiative to try and bring together both public and private investment to fight cervical and breast cancer in Africa and Latin America" (Hughes, 4/26).