Bill Gates, a philanthropist, declared Monday that Africa will receive the majority of the $200 billion he intends to donate over the next 20 years.
During a speech at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Gates informed government leaders, diplomats, and partners that the emphasis would be “on partnering with governments that prioritise the health and wellbeing of their people.”
“Every African nation should be on a path to prosperity by unleashing human potential through health and education – and that path is an exciting thing to be part of,” Gates stated.
Since primary healthcare (PHC) “has the greatest impact on health and wellbeing,” he urged that it be given priority.
“We’ve discovered that the best outcomes in primary healthcare come from assisting the mother in maintaining her health and eating well both before and during her pregnancy. It makes a huge impact to make sure the child eats healthily during the first four years of life.
Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia were highlighted by Gates for demonstrating fearless leadership that leverages innovation, from extending frontline health services to implementing cutting-edge techniques to combat HIV and malaria and protecting PHC.
“The perseverance of Africans, even in areas with extremely limited resources, has always inspired me.” “Even in the most rural areas, the type of field work to get solutions out has been incredible,” Gates continued.
Gates also discussed artificial intelligence’s revolutionary potential and its importance for the future of the continent.
“Africa largely skipped traditional banking and now you have a chance, as you build your next generation healthcare systems, to think about how AI is built into that,” he added, drawing a comparison to the continent’s mobile banking boom.
“AI-enabled ultrasound to identify high-risk pregnancies earlier, helping women receive timely, potentially life-saving care,” he noted, referring to Rwanda.
The Gates Foundation said in a press release that Gates will “confirm his and the foundation’s commitment to supporting Africa’s progress in health and development over the next 20 years while visiting Ethiopia and Nigeria this week to observe firsthand the state of health and development priorities in the wake of foreign aid cuts.”
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