SEOUL ā Bill Gates on Tuesday called for South Korea to become more involved in international efforts to prevent infectious diseases like COVID-19 as he stressed the need for the world to be better prepared for the next pandemic.
Representing the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Gates signed a memorandum of understanding with South Koreaās foreign and health ministries pledging further partnerships in projects aimed at improving public health tools in the developing world and advancing vaccines and treatments for infectious diseases.
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Seoul also promised stronger support for key projects backed by the Gates foundation, including the Global Fund, which focuses on HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, and the non-profit groups CEPI and GAVI, which along with the World Health Organization co-lead the COVAX distribution program that distributes COVID-19 vaccines to lower-income nations.
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 ācrisis momentā in global health.
He noted South Koreaās strength in public health tools, research and vaccine manufacturing and praised the countryās pledge to donate $200 million to COVAX.
āThereās a lot we need to do together ā- we need to reach deep, we need to build more partnership, we need to encourage the scientists,ā Gates said in his speech at the National Assembly. āBut I am confident that with these steps we can continue to radically improve global health, to cut the number of children dying in half again, to eradicate diseases like polio, measles and malaria, and improve the lives of all humans.ā
Gates later met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who described government plans to promote the countryās bio-health industry and expressed a willingness to further cooperate with the Gates foundation to āimprove the health of global citizens.ā
Gates said South Korea has been a āgood partnerā in his foundationās health projects, including development of more accessible COVID-19 vaccines and work on HIV, malaria and tuberculosis.
āWe hope we can do more together,ā Gates said, according to Yoonās office.
Gates also met leaders of the SK business group to discuss cooperation on health projects. SKās pharmaceutical arm, SK Bioscience, produces COVID-19 vaccines and has received funds from the Gates foundation to develop nasal sprays designed to help prevent coronavirus infections.