Eradicating Preventable Diseases Around the World Starts Here in Canada

Talking about foreign aid, accountability, and vaccinations, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates sat down for a chat in Ottawa on Wednesday afternoon to discuss some of the world's most common, preventable diseases. The world is on the verge of ending the preventable deaths of mothers and children under five within a generation, but there's still room for improvement.

The mediated conversation centred around the continued promotion of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH). In light of this topic, Harper and Gates renewed the call for focused global political leadership and sustained financial commitments to ensure MNCH remains a development priority.

“Canada’s top development priority remains eliminating the preventable deaths of mothers, newborns and children in developing countries. While significant progress has been made, more can and must be done to sustain the momentum and end these preventable deaths within our lifetime. Our Government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have been steadfast partners in championing this cause, and remain committed to ensuring that all women and children can live healthy and productive lives. Together, we will continue to call on the international community to renew their commitment and support to ensure our global efforts remain focused on eliminating preventable maternal and child deaths,” said Prime Minister Harper.

One of the primary topics discussed was in regards to combating commonly held diseases and the importance of immunization.

It's important to set ambitious goal, but not un-achievable goals, said Harper. Education and proper immunization is an example of an achievable goal and Canada plays a critical role in the process.

“We in the educated, medically advanced, sophisticated part of the world, we have a responsibility when it comes to [vaccinations.]” said Harper. “We have a responsibility to set an example. It is completely irresponsible that we would communicate anything other than that in any area of the world.”

Touching on the issues surrounding immunization here in Canada, Harper said it's important to get the facts straight, vaccinate your children, and listen to your doctor.

Essentially, if we're going to push for vaccinations around the world in order to eradicate some of the most common yet treatable diseases, then why wouldn't we vaccinate Canadians?

Although leaps and bounds have been made in the last 15 years in terms of immunization and foreign aid, Gates mentioned a couple of areas of investment that he would like to see continue: research into new vaccinations including HIV and malaria, as well as quicker distribution of medicine and vaccination resources where they are needed most in the world.

Getting vaccination rates up is essential to eradicating disease, said Gates. There's nothing more effective and financial costs for the vaccinations are very low.

“We are a very priviliged society and we have so much to give to others, and we can actually make a really big difference,” added PM Harper.

We need to continue to drive change and transform the planet, because it can be done and we should grab the opportunity.