Bill Gates to Visit India on HIV/AIDS Mission

[Guest guest]

10.7.2002

Bill Gates to Visit India on HIV/AIDS Mission

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Contact:

Jacquelline Fuller

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Phone: 206.709.3400

Email: media@...

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SEATTLE – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced that

its co-founder, Bill Gates, will visit India next month to lead a

foundation delegation that will see first-hand some of the challenges

and exemplary initiatives underway to prevent the transmission of

HIV. During his trip, Gates is expected to announce a long-term,

strategic commitment to support the country's efforts to slow the

spread of HIV/AIDS. Gates will be in India November 11-14. Further

details on his itinerary will be provided closer to the trip.

According to the government of India, approximately 4 million adults

and children are HIV positive. Recent reports have projected that

India could have the highest number of people with HIV/AIDS in the

world within the next few years, with 20-25 million HIV/AIDS cases by

2010.

Gates will also visit sites in conjunction with the foundation's $25

million grant to the Partnership Project in Andhra Pradesh – a joint

project between the Children's Vaccine Program at PATH (Program for

Appropriate Technologies in Health) and the Government of Andhra

Pradesh, to introduce hepatitis B vaccine and strengthen the overall

infant immunization program in the state.

The foundation's Global Health Program is focused on reducing global

health inequities by accelerating the development, deployment and

sustainability of health interventions that will save lives and

dramatically reduce the disease burden in developing countries.

While in India, Gates also will participate in events on behalf of

the Microsoft Corporation. The company will make a separate

announcement regarding those details.

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