Zambia: Gates Pledges to Finance Malaria, HIV Fight
WORLD renowned Microsoft Corporation founder
Bill Gates is visiting Zambia with a pledge to finance HIV, malaria and
child vaccination programmes.
Mr Gates, who is chairperson of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said Zambia was expected to have a new malaria vaccine which would go a long way in securing the future of children.
He said this before he went into a closed-door meeting with Finance and National Planning Minister Alexander Chikwanda, who is acting President.
"Like in HIV/AIDS, the foundation is dedicated to finding new tools and hopefully these tools will come along to reduce sickness even more.
"So we appreciate our partnership with this Government. It will be very educational so that I can learn about how we can be a greater partner," Mr Gates said.
He congratulated Zambia for the smooth transition of power following presidential and general elections that took place in September last year.
Describing the transition as valuable, Mr Gates said Zambia should continue with peace by respecting the values of democracy while efforts should be dedicated towards fighting disease.
"My visit will be on HIV, malaria and also vaccination work. This country will be getting a new vaccine and those can make a huge difference in terms of the health of children. Those are three areas where Zambia has a chance to make a huge improvement," he said.
Mr Chikwanda said Mr Gates' works had gone beyond the veritable pioneering of information technology with its salutary impact on the global development process.
"The unfettered assistance you have rendered to the world by helping in the areas of HIV/AIDS and malaria is in monumental testimony to your sense of duty and responsibility to humanity," Mr Chikwanda said.
He said malaria and HIV were afflictions which posed a huge challenge on health delivery, adding that the actions of generosity exhibited by Mr Gates would help widen the frontiers of humanity.
"Zambia, a place of peace and harmony in diversity salutes your heroic acts. We wish you well in your noble endeavours and pray that your overcrowded schedules permitting you, will find time to visit our country again," Mr Chikwanda said.
The function was attended by Local Government and Housing Minister Nkandu Luo, Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister Miles Sampa, while Vice-President Guy Scott also came in to greet Mr Gates.
And on his website, Mr Gates writes that he would be in Zambia to look at malaria interventions because that was where the foundation supported the first major efforts to distribute bed nets and encourage people to use them.
"After we began this work, the United States started the President's Malaria Initiative, which essentially expanded what we were doing in Zambia and replicated the programme in other countries," he wrote ahead of his trip to Zambia.
He said malaria deaths were way down from their peak in Zambia mainly attributed to bed nets that had been effective.
"But we are still looking for answers to some questions about them. How much do they help on long term? How quickly do they wear out? Despite them, do malaria deaths eventually rebound, as we have seen somewhat in Zambia (particularly in the north)?" he asked.
Earlier, Mr Gates visited Coptic hospital where he talked to patients and staff. The media were not allowed.
Mr Gates, who is chairperson of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said Zambia was expected to have a new malaria vaccine which would go a long way in securing the future of children.
He said this before he went into a closed-door meeting with Finance and National Planning Minister Alexander Chikwanda, who is acting President.
"Like in HIV/AIDS, the foundation is dedicated to finding new tools and hopefully these tools will come along to reduce sickness even more.
"So we appreciate our partnership with this Government. It will be very educational so that I can learn about how we can be a greater partner," Mr Gates said.
He congratulated Zambia for the smooth transition of power following presidential and general elections that took place in September last year.
Describing the transition as valuable, Mr Gates said Zambia should continue with peace by respecting the values of democracy while efforts should be dedicated towards fighting disease.
"My visit will be on HIV, malaria and also vaccination work. This country will be getting a new vaccine and those can make a huge difference in terms of the health of children. Those are three areas where Zambia has a chance to make a huge improvement," he said.
Mr Chikwanda said Mr Gates' works had gone beyond the veritable pioneering of information technology with its salutary impact on the global development process.
"The unfettered assistance you have rendered to the world by helping in the areas of HIV/AIDS and malaria is in monumental testimony to your sense of duty and responsibility to humanity," Mr Chikwanda said.
He said malaria and HIV were afflictions which posed a huge challenge on health delivery, adding that the actions of generosity exhibited by Mr Gates would help widen the frontiers of humanity.
"Zambia, a place of peace and harmony in diversity salutes your heroic acts. We wish you well in your noble endeavours and pray that your overcrowded schedules permitting you, will find time to visit our country again," Mr Chikwanda said.
The function was attended by Local Government and Housing Minister Nkandu Luo, Finance and National Planning Deputy Minister Miles Sampa, while Vice-President Guy Scott also came in to greet Mr Gates.
And on his website, Mr Gates writes that he would be in Zambia to look at malaria interventions because that was where the foundation supported the first major efforts to distribute bed nets and encourage people to use them.
"After we began this work, the United States started the President's Malaria Initiative, which essentially expanded what we were doing in Zambia and replicated the programme in other countries," he wrote ahead of his trip to Zambia.
He said malaria deaths were way down from their peak in Zambia mainly attributed to bed nets that had been effective.
"But we are still looking for answers to some questions about them. How much do they help on long term? How quickly do they wear out? Despite them, do malaria deaths eventually rebound, as we have seen somewhat in Zambia (particularly in the north)?" he asked.
Earlier, Mr Gates visited Coptic hospital where he talked to patients and staff. The media were not allowed.
