Prabowo Meets Bill Gates To Discuss Strengthening Access To Health And The Agriculture Sector

The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, together with the founder of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of the Presidential Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia)

JAKARTA - President of the Republic of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto, received an honorary visit from the world's philanthropic figure and founder of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday, May 7.

During the meeting, Prabowo emphasized the Indonesian government's commitment to improving access to health and strengthening the agricultural sector as part of the sustainable development agenda.

Meanwhile, Bill Gates expressed his appreciation for Indonesia's concrete steps in adopting new vaccines such as rotavirus, pneumokokus, and HPV to protect children from deadly disease.

In addition, Bill Gates also highlighted Indonesia's important role in the trial of the tuberculosis (TB) vaccine which will bring great benefits not only to Indonesia, but also to the world.

"Indonesia is a great example in adopting new vaccines such as rotavirus for diarrhea, pneumokokus for pneumonia, and now HPV is being introduced," he said in an official statement, Wednesday, May 7.

Gates praised the collaboration between the Gates Foundation and the Indonesian government, including the involvement of Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin in the GAVI Council, a global organization focused on distributing vaccines to children around the world. This collaboration, according to Gates, has proven effective during the pandemic and will continue in various health programs.

"He (Minister of Health) knew GAVI well during the pandemic, where the relationship between GAVI and Indonesia was very positive and we will continue that", he added.

Gates also appreciated the Indonesian government in handling malnutrition. Gates explained that they have a number of tools that have proven to be good for doubling micronutrient supplements for pregnant women. He appreciated that Indonesia was the first to have the program.

"Indonesia was one of the first to launch it with the aim of giving it to all pregnant women quickly, and it really brings big differences," he said.

In addition to health, Gates also highlighted the progress of the agricultural sector in Indonesia, especially in the development of superior seeds and increasing productivity of food crops such as bananas. He mentioned that support for small farmers can increase food security and the economic welfare of rural communities.

"We have good relations in Indonesia, working on things like bananas, where Indonesia has great genetic diversity. We can improve the quality of bananas here, as well as help avoid disease," he said.