US billionaire Bill Gates said he was " optimistic " on Saturday about the fight against the Covid-19, and called for distributing drugs and vaccines to those who need them and not to "the highest bidders ."
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" If we let drugs and vaccines go to the highest bidder, instead of people where they are needed most, we will have a longer, more unfair and more deadly pandemic, " said the founder of Microsoft, in a statement. video message to a virtual international conference on Covid-19 held in continuation of that on AIDS, also virtual. " We need leaders to make firm decisions for distribution based on equity and not just market factors ," he added in a video recorded in Seattle.
The philanthropist engaged in the fight against epidemics pointed out that the pandemic has interrupted the supply chains of drugs, including against AIDS, which risks " depriving hundreds of thousands of people of the treatments they need, and not just in sub-Saharan Africa ”. " But I remain optimistic, " added Bill Gates. " We will win against Covid-19 and continue to make progress against AIDS and other health crises ."
He said the researchers " are making great progress. Better diagnostic tools are being developed to identify those who are infected. Investments are going to antiviral drug banks, a branch of science that was underinvested . ” “ We are also making great progress on vaccines. These platforms will not be useful only against a particular virus. They will also help us against HIV. But, of course, there is a big difference between having a platform and ensuring that we deliver its products to everyone who needs it, "said Bill Gates.
The second reason for his optimism, he added, is the global solidarity, already demonstrated in the fight against AIDS, with the Global Fund created in 2002, and the American aid program PEPFAR, launched by George W. Bush and intended mainly for sub-Saharan Africa. " Whether it is AIDS or Covid-19, global cooperation and determination to invent tools and deliver them where they are needed most are crucial, " he said.