Jeddah, July 6,2013 : Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, Chairman of the IDB Group hailed the existing cooperation between the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the IDB Group in their efforts to eradicate polio in three member countries of the Bank, viz., Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.
Dr. Ali, who visited the Gates Foundation in Seattle, Washington, last week, expressed hope to step up cooperation to include eradication of contagious diseases, increasing food security, and promoting health services especially for children in IDB member countries.
The move comes within the framework of IDB’s Vision 1440H, which attaches special importance to the development of health sector in member countries. The total financing by the IDB in the health sector since its inception stands at US$ 2.1 billion.
Developing healthcare, and eradicating polio and malaria are primary aims that the IDB Group shares with the Gates Foundation.