Banerjee meets President Bush

DeeDee Banerjee thought it was odd when one of her college friends called and asked for her date of birth and Social Security number.

?I asked him ?What are you trying to do, get a credit card in my name’ said Banerjee. ?But he told me to trust him and that he would have some good news in a little while. The next thing I know, I?m on a plane to the White House.?

Banerjee made the trip to Washington D.C. for the first National Malaria Awareness Day held April 25. As a rising senior at Emory University in Atlanta, Banerjee is a member of an organization called Footsteps, which is dedicated to fighting problems such as world hunger, poverty and malaria.

It was through Footsteps that Banerjee was invited to the White House for a luncheon that included First Lady Laura Bush, numerous U.S. senators, and an ambassador from Japan.

?It was kind of weird being a student from McMinnville among so many world leaders,? said Banerjee. ?At first it felt completely normal. It was on the plane ride back where it really all started to sink in. Then it was like ?Wow, did I just do that?? It was overwhelming.?

After lunch, the group assembled in the Rose Garden for a malaria awareness speech from Laura Bush. At her side during the speech was none other than the president himself, George W. Bush. After the speech by Laura Bush, the president did his little dance that has since been replayed over and over on cable news networks.

Banerjee said President Bush was on a tight schedule so he didn?t have time to pose for pictures. She was however able to shake his hand.

While malaria isn?t such a major health problem in America, it?s rampant in countries such as Africa. For healthy adults, malaria is rarely serious. Banerjee said some adults get malaria and never even know it.

However, malaria is more serious in children under 5, where some deaths have occurred, and in pregnant women, who can have miscarriages due to malaria.