Bill Gates makes first official visit to GAVI
Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with GAVI's Chief Executive Officer Julian Lob-Levyt at the Alliance headquarters in Geneva. Copyright: GAVI/09/Jay Louvion
Founding member of Alliance focuses on GAVI plans to roll-out rotavirus vaccination
Geneva, 9 June 2009 – Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, visited the GAVI Alliance headquarters in Geneva on Tuesday to learn firsthand about the successes of an organisation that he played a key role in launching almost 10 years ago, as well as the challenges to come.
Mr. Gates’ meeting with GAVI Chief Executive Officer Julian Lob-Levyt focused on the Alliance’s plans to accelerate the roll-out of new vaccines, in particular, one against rotavirus, which is responsible for more than half-a-million diarrheal deaths among children, mainly in poor countries.
Rotavirus
The World Health Organization’s recent recommendation that the rotavirus vaccination be included in all national immunization programmes has now paved the way for low-income countries in Africa and Asia to apply for GAVI support to introduce this life-saving vaccine.
In 1999, the Gates Foundation provided an initial US$750 million to help set-up GAVI and remains a key member of the Alliance; over the past 10 years, the Foundation has committed more than US$1.5 billion to GAVI’s mission.
At yesterday’s meeting, Mr Gates reiterated his strong commitment to GAVI and said that his Foundation would do all that it could to work with and help GAVI achieve its future goals.
Related links
 |
 |
 |