Article Summary
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and the Gates Foundation, met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta to discuss global health, nutrition, financial inclusion, and public digital infrastructure. The Gates Foundation has granted over $159 million to Indonesia since 2009, with a significant portion going towards the health sector and vaccine procurement. Biofarma, a state-run pharmaceutical company, now produces two billion doses of its polio vaccine annually, benefiting over 900 million people in 42 countries. Gates is planning to roll out a micronutrient supplement for pregnant women in Indonesia and will receive Indonesia’s highest honor in New York during the U.N. General Assembly in September. The article highlights the importance of international collaboration in addressing global health issues and the crucial role of philanthropy in advancing healthcare solutions.
Original Post
JAKARTA, Indonesia —
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Bill Gates was in Indonesia on Wednesday to discuss health and sustainable development initiatives with the leader of the world’s fourth most populous country.
Gates met President Prabowo Subianto at the colonial-style Merdeka palace in Jakarta to discuss global health, nutrition, financial inclusion and public digital infrastructure, Indonesia’s presidential office said in a statement ahead of the meeting.
The co-founder of Microsoft and Gates Foundation praised Indonesia’s adoption of vaccines like Rotavirus for diarrhea and Pneumococcus for pneumonia and the country’s efforts in reducing child mortality.
He said ten million children under the age of five worldwide died when his foundation launched in 2000, with 90% of the deaths due to diarrhea, pneumonia or malaria. That number has now been cut in half to below five million, Gates said.
“It’s been an amazing time period. And there’s many new tools coming,” he told the meeting, which was also attended by prominent Indonesian businesspeople and philanthropists.
Gates’ foundation is currently developing a tuberculosis vaccine that’s planned to be tested in Indonesia, Subianto said.
“This is crucial because TB is still a deadly disease in the country,” he said.
Gates said that because rich countries don’t have tuberculosis, “it just doesn’t get hardly any money for diagnostics or drugs or vaccines.”
Gates has granted more than $159 million to Indonesia since 2009. Much
What This Means for You
- Increased global collaboration in health initiatives can lead to significant advancements and improvements in healthcare access and outcomes, particularly in developing countries like Indonesia.
- Supporting international philanthropic efforts can help address critical health challenges and reduce preventable deaths, especially in areas with limited resources.
- Encouraging innovation and the development of new medical tools and technologies is crucial in combating diseases that still pose significant threats to public health, such as tuberculosis.
- As global citizens, it is essential to stay informed about international health issues and support organizations and initiatives that contribute to the betterment of global health and wellbeing.
Key Terms
- Global health
- Philanthropy
- Vaccine procurement
- Tuberculosis
- International collaboration
- Healthcare outcomes
- Medical innovation
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