GENEVA, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- The director-general of the World Health Organization is praising a $750 million gift to global immunization from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The foundation Monday said it will contribute $750 million over a decade for the work of the Global Alliance on Vaccines and Immunization. Norway's Parliament pledged $290 million over the next five years for a total of more than $1 billion for global immunization.
"These large contributions will help save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and prevent immense suffering and disability over the coming years," said Dr. Lee Jong-wook, director-general of the Swiss-based World Health Organization and chairman of the global alliance.
The WHO says about 2 million people die each year from infectious diseases that can be easily prevented by basic immunizations. The Gates Foundation donated $750 million to help start the global alliance in 1999.
