Melinda Gates to support First Lady’s Beyond Zero campaign

Melinda Gates, wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, has promised to support First Lady Margaret Kenyatta’s Beyond Zero campaign in helping it to expand its reach and in the delivery of health care services to mothers and children.

In a visit yesterday at State House, Mrs Gates said the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s goals are similar to the health initiatives led by Mrs Kenyatta which aim at averting maternal and children mortality in Kenya.

“We have been working in Kenya for quite some time and our focus has been on various sectors, including agriculture, health, financial services and social justice,” said Mrs Gates.

She said the foundation is also collaborating with county governments to improve lives in the rural areas.

The foundation is currently involved in a number of health initiatives in Kenya including HIV/Aids, on family planning and other interventions targeting women and adolescents.

Mrs Gates’ campaigns target women and girls in the developing world in a bid to reduce maternal and newborn deaths.

“If family planning methods can reach 120 million women around the globe as it is outlined in the FP2020 initiative then it means we will be in a position to avert maternal deaths by 35 per cent and stop newborn deaths by half,” she said during a press briefing in Kangemi on Tuesday.

The co-founder and trustee of the foundation also pledged to work closely with Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/Aids (OAFLA) and in getting men more involved in health promotion.

Mrs Kenyatta also briefed Mrs Gates on the progress and impact of the Beyond Zero campaign and about the ninth edition of Stop Cervical and Breast Cancer Campaign held last year.