Mahama Meets Bill Gates in Brussels, Advocates Support for Gavi’s $9 Billion Vaccine Initiative
Brussels, June 25, 2025 — Former President John Dramani Mahama met with American billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates in Brussels on Wednesday ahead of the Gavi Vaccine Alliance pledging session, with discussions centered on key health sector initiatives in Ghana and the importance of international cooperation in global healthcare.
In a post shared on Facebook, Mr. Mahama said their engagement focused on Ghana’s progress in healthcare, particularly in the areas of Free Primary Healthcare, the development of the National Vaccine Institute, and the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIS) to enhance accessibility and financial sustainability.
“We covered key topics, including the significant progress on the Free Primary Healthcare programme, the ongoing work of the National Vaccine Institute, and the impact of uncapping the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIS) to improve healthcare access and financing,” Mahama wrote.
President Mahama extended appreciation to Bill Gates and the Gates Foundation for their longstanding support to Ghana and their crucial contributions to the Gavi Vaccine Alliance, a global health partnership aimed at increasing access to immunisation in low-income countries.
He also held a separate meeting with Gavi Board Chair José Manuel Barroso, who thanked the former president for his consistent advocacy and commitment to Gavi’s vaccine replenishment efforts.
“Supporting an organisation that is doing such crucial work for global health is always a pleasure,” Mahama noted.
A Global Investment in Children’s Lives
Ahead of the pledging session, President Mahama highlighted the scale of Gavi’s upcoming campaign, which aims to raise $9 billion from 2026 to 2030 to immunise 500 million children worldwide.
Putting the figure into perspective, Mahama referenced the cost of a single B-2 Spirit bomber, reportedly $2.13 billion, and argued that the value of just four such bombers could instead save hundreds of millions of lives.
“Surely, the world can invest the equivalent cost of four B-2 bombers to save 500 million children,” he said.
“It’s a choice we have to make between taking lives and saving lives, and I am sure we will save lives instead of taking them.”
The former president’s comments come at a critical time as global leaders, donors, and development partners gather to reaffirm their commitment to expanding vaccine access and strengthening health systems, particularly in vulnerable regions.
Please download our HOTDIGITAL ONLINE APP and follow HotDigital Online on our social media platforms to stay updated on our upcoming initiatives.
#HotDigitalHealthAwareness #CommunityHealth #GhanaNursesAssociationUK #HealthMatters #HotDigitalOnline #StrongerTogether
