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US-Americas-Gates: 4.9 million from Gates foundation for blood safety in the Americas

Agence France-Presse - December 13, 2000

WASHINGTON, Dec 13 (AFP) - A foundation established by Microsoft chairman Bill Gates will provide 4.9 million dollars to strengthen blood-safety programs throughout the Americas, the Pan-American Health Organization said Wednesday.

The three-year grant will help the organization and its member countries move toward the screening of all blood units for HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis, with additional screening for Chagas' disease in Latin America by the end of 2003, the organization said in a news release.

The funds will be used to improve the efficiency of laboratories which screen donated blood, develop national quality assurance programs, set up performance evaluation programs for blood banks, and promote blood donation through educational programs, the news release said.

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