Seoul, Aug. 17 (BNA) – Bill Gates called on South Korea to get more involved in international efforts to prevent infectious diseases such as COVID-19, stressing the world’s need to better prepare for the upcoming pandemic.
Like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates signed a memorandum of understanding with the South Korean ministries of foreign affairs and health, and pledged more partnerships on projects aimed at improving public health tools in the developing world and developing vaccines and treatments for infectious diseases, the AP reports.
Seoul also promised stronger support for key projects supported by the Gates Foundation, including the Global Fund, which focuses on HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, and nonprofit groups CEPI and GAVI, which with the World Health Organization co-lead the COVAX distribution program that distributes COVID vaccines. 19 on low income countries.
Speaking to South Korean lawmakers in Seoul, Gates called for stronger international cooperation, including efforts to develop vaccines that would be effective for a broader range of coronaviruses, to navigate what he described as a “moment of crisis” in global health.
He noted South Korea’s strength in public health tools, research and vaccine manufacturing and praised the country’s pledge to donate $200 million to COVAX.
“There is a lot that we have to do together — we need to go deeper, we need to build more partnership, we need to encourage scientists,” Gates said in his speech to the National Assembly.
“But I am confident that through these steps we can continue to fundamentally improve global health, halve the number of children dying again, eradicate diseases such as polio, measles and malaria, and improve the lives of all people.”
Gates later met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who described the government’s plans to boost the country’s vital health industry and expressed a willingness to further collaborate with the Gates Foundation to “improve the health of global citizens.”
Gates said South Korea has been a “good partner” on his foundation’s health projects, including developing accessible COVID-19 vaccines and working on HIV, malaria and tuberculosis.
“Hopefully we can do more together,” Gates said, according to Yoon’s office.
Gates also met with leaders of the SK business group to discuss collaboration on health projects. SK Bioscience, the pharmaceutical arm of SK, produces COVID-19 vaccines and has received money from the Gates Foundation to develop nasal sprays designed to help prevent infection with the coronavirus.