For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
February 20, 2008

Statement by Mrs. Bush After a Visit to Maamobi Polyclinic

Maamobi Polyclinic
Accra, Ghana

4:06 P.M. (Local)

MRS. BUSH: Well, we've just had a very wonderful day in Ghana, President Bush and I have. I think he's at a tee ball game right now playing baseball with some children in Ghana. But I've had the pleasure all day of being with Mrs. Kufuor. Thank you so much for joining me -- at the school this morning and then here at this clinic.

Jordin Sparks has come from the United States. As you all know, she's the "American Idol" from 2007, and she's also very interested in working to make sure we eradicate malaria everywhere. So thank you, Jordin, for coming.

We've just seen some very interesting things. We saw a skit with some children and adults talking about using bed nets. The mosquitoes that cause malaria bite mainly at night, so if you sleep under a bed net, an insecticide-treated bed net, you really can protect yourself from malaria.

So I urge people in Ghana to make sure you cover your children with a bed net over their beds; and pregnant women especially, use a bed net to keep from getting malaria.

And I'm proud that the United States is working with the country of Ghana on this issue. We've joined with the President's Malaria Initiative, the already ongoing Ghanaian Malaria Initiative that has been working for a while.

So thank you very much for your hospitality, Mrs. Kufuor. And thank you to everybody for your hospitality. We've had a great day here. Thanks a lot.

Okay, and thank you, Jordin, for being with us.

MS. SPARKS: Thank you for having me.

MS. KUFUOR: Thank you, everybody.

MRS. BUSH: Thanks, everyone.

END 4:08 P.M. (Local)