Billionaire philanthropist, Bill gates, has again made a major statement on coronavirus and the battle against it.
Gates had, at the inception of the pandemic, been caught in the midst of a controversy, with some suggesting he tended to benefit from the business side of it.
But he has since reassured the world of his genuine intention.
Speaking on it again, he has expressed the hope that the disease will be conquered.
He, however, warned that calculations of vaccines and drugs should not be based on who have the financial muscles but how they could spread and get to the vulnerable too.
He said in a Saturday’s video message to a virtual international conference on COVID-19 and AIDS., “If we just let drugs and vaccines go to the highest bidders, instead to the people in the place where they are most needed, we will have a longer and more unjust, deadlier pandemic.
“We need leaders to make these hard decisions about distributing based on equity, not just on market-driven factors.”
According to AFP, Gates stressed that the pandemic has interrupted the supply chains of drugs, including against AIDS, which risks disruptions which “could prevent hundreds of thousands of people from getting the treatments they need – and not just in sub-Saharan Africa.”
“But I remain optimistic,” he added. “We will defeat COVID-19 and we will continue to make strides against AIDS and other health crisis.”
“Better diagnostic tools are being developed to identify those infected. Investments are being made in libraries of anti-viral drugs which has been an under-invested branch of science.
“Also, we are making great progress on vaccines.
“These platforms won’t just be useful against this particular virus. They will also help us specifically for HIV.
“Of course, there is a big difference between getting a platform and making sure we get the products out to everyone who needs them.
“Whether it is AIDS or COVID-19, global cooperation and resolve to invent the tools and get them out where they are needed most is critical.”
