Bill Gates pledges more support for Ghana's health system

He set up the Gates Foundation in 1994 to enhance health care, reduce extreme poverty and expand educational opportunities and access to information technology across the globe.

The foundation had an endowment of US$36.2 billion as of September 30, 2012.

It is already supporting disease control programmes for tuberculosis, malaria and HIV in Ghana.

Mr Gates, the 2013 Forbes magazine's second richest man, said he was in Ghana for the first time to learn about the health system, especially in the areas of immunisation of children and the use of data to treat people.

He said he had great respect for Ghana's health system and indicated that his foundation wanted to replicate Ghana's experience elsewhere.

Mr Gates mentioned agriculture and sanitation as some of the areas that the Gates Foundation was willing to support.

Responding, President Mahama commended Mr Gates for his numerous forms of support for Ghana's public healthcare system, especially in the areas of HIV/AIDS.

He mentioned the school feeding programme, the fight against malaria and maternal health care as some of the areas receiving support from the Gates Foundation.

President Mahama said the support from the Gates Foundation had helped boost the nutritional needs of children and increased school enrolment, making Ghana  reach the universal enrolment level.

He gave an assurance that the government was adopting new ways of tackling the sanitation situation in the country.

Story by Musah Yahaya Jafaru