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1 April 2001
Media Advisory
BILL GATES SENIOR AND CAROL BELLAMY DELIVER LIFE-SAVING VACCINES TO
MOZAMBIQUE
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WHO:
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Bill Gates Sr., Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Carol Bellamy, Executive Director United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF)
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WHEN:
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Friday, 6 April 2001
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WHERE:
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Mozambique, Africa Bill Gates Sr. and Carol Bellamy will travel
from the capital city Maputo to Boane District Health Clinic in
Maputo Province.
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WHAT:
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The Gates and Bellamy visit celebrates the arrival of the first
vaccines to Africa contributed by The Global Alliance for Vaccines
and Immunization (GAVI) and The Vaccine Fund. Gates and Bellamy will
present the first boxes of DTP-hepB vaccines to Mozambique's
President Joaquim Chissano and also see the very first children
being immunized with the new vaccines. The DTP-hepB vaccines will be
used to immunize children against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping
cough and hepatitis B.
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WHY:
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GAVI/The Vaccine Fund estimates that 2 million children die every
year because they lack access to immunization. Hepatitis B claims
one million adult lives a year due to poor childhood immunisation
against the disease. The GAVI/Global Fund contribution to Mozambique
consists of 1,3 million doses of DTP-hepB with an estimated value of
$1.5 million. In addition, Mozambique will receive $462,000 to
strengthen the country's immunization services and a supply of
auto-disable syringes and safety boxes.
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For further information or to arrange interviews please contact:
Yasmin Zaman,
UNICEF,
New York,
tel: (+258) 1 490 023
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Joseldo Massango,
UNICEF,
Maputo,
tel: (+258) 1 490 023
or mobile 082 324 903
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Dr. Martinho Dgedge,
Ministry of Health,
tel: (+258) 1 1 421
738
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Annemarie Hou,
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,
Seattle,
tel: (+1) 206 709 3265
or mobile (+1) 206 709 3265
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Note to Editors: A full list of
spokespersons is also available with other key GAVI and Global Fund
partners.
Further information:
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