Bill Gates to Visit India on HIV/AIDS Mission

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.

On the Internet:
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, www.gatesfoundation.org
Children's Vaccine Program, www.childrensvaccine.org