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REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Prabowo Subianto revealed one of the contents of his talks with Bill Gates at Istana Merdeka, Jakarta, Wednesday (7/5/2025), concerning the planned trial of tuberculosis vaccine in Indonesia. Bill Gates, through his foundation the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is currently financing tuberculosis vaccine research and trials, which have entered the clinical trial phase in several countries.
“He is developing a TB vaccine for the world, but Indonesia will be one of the test sites, and we know that tuberculosis takes a considerable toll on us, dying almost 100,000 every year,” President Prabowo said in a statement at Istana Merdeka in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The president then reiterated the government is committed to lowering mortality from tuberculosis, which has currently been run through several programs, including free health checks.
“He showed commitment, he continues to help us in that area (TB prevention), and he is developing a malaria vaccine,” the president said.
At Istana Merdeka, Bill Gates said there were two locations designated as clinical trials of tuberculosis vaccines in Indonesia. Bill Gates said the trial would help develop a TB vaccine that could later be used in countries with high TB cases.
“We have conducted trials in Africa, India, and here (Indonesia). We're really looking forward to that,” Bill Gates said.
Bill Gates continued, TB control and prevention became one of the focuses of the foundation and research institutions that shelter under him. Not only tuberculosis, Gates is also currently heavily involved in developing vaccines for pneumonia, HPV, malaria, and diarrhea.
President Prabowo received the arrival of Bill Gates at the Palace of Merdeka at around 08.00 pm. President Prabowo and Bill Gates met for approximately 2 hours at the Merdeka Palace.
At the Palace of Merdeka, the President invited Bill Gates into his office for a discussion. During the meeting, several ministers of the Merah and White Cabinet accompanied the President, among others, Minister of Investment and Hilirization as well as Danantara CEO Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Communications and Digital Meutya Hafid, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono, Minister of State Prasetyo Hadi, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.
After the discussion in the President's office, the President further met and introduced Bill Gates with a number of domestic tycoons, including Chairul Tanjung, Haji Abdul Rasyid, Garibaldi Thohir, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, and Prajogo Pangestu. There are also Arsjad Rasyid, Tomy Winata, James Riady, Anthony Salim, Dato' Sri Tahir, and Haji Isam.
The president then invited the tycoons to take questions and discuss with Bill Gates. Bill Gates then left the Palace complex heading to SDN 03 Jati in Pulogadung, East Jakarta, to review the implementation of a free nutritious meal with President Prabowo, accompanied by Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin. Bill Gates left for SDN 03 Jati in the same car as Menkes Budi.
sumber : Antara
