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Mbeki and Gates meet on AIDS issues

    JOHANNESBURG

    Computer software billionaire Bill Gates met with South African President Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday in the capital, Pretoria, to discuss issues relating to HIV/AIDS.

    Mbeki, who has drawn criticism for his sluggish response to the pandemic, admitted that health was one of the "principle challenges" facing South Africa and the continent as a whole, and said he wanted to discuss how Gates could help.

    Gates described the country's progress in rolling out anti-AIDS drugs as "disappointingly slow".

    The local Business Day newspaper quoted him as saying, "Everyone would like to see more patients on treatment ... in this country a lot of the credit for progress goes to the activists."

    Gates said he was willing to share whatever ideas the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a philanthropic organisation, might have on improved HIV prevention, treatment and care.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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