Highlights
- Bill Gates says reducing child mortality by half in 25 years is one of humanity’s biggest achievements.
- Believes child deaths can be reduced further in the next 20 years with steady funding.
- Praises innovations in malaria prevention, HIV treatment, and maternal vaccines.
- Commits to spend almost all his wealth on health over the next 20 years.
- Calls on rich countries and global financial institutions to increase support for poor nations.
Child Mortality Declined Sharply
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has once again highlighted the importance of investment in global health. He pointed out that child mortality has dropped by half in the last 25 years, calling it one of the greatest achievements of humanity.
In 2000, nearly 10 million children died before the age of five. Today, the number is less than 5 million.
Warning About Future Risks
Gates warned that if global investment in health stops, this progress will also stop. He urged wealthy nations to keep increasing their budgets for global health.
“Millions of children around the world are still at risk. If rich countries do not increase their health budgets, the future of children may be in danger.”
Hope Through Science and Innovation
Gates spoke about recent successes in health research and technology. He mentioned malaria-prevention tools that could nearly eliminate the disease, maternal vaccines that save newborns, and long-term HIV medicines that replace daily pills.
He believes with proper investment, HIV/AIDS could one day become a disease of the past.
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Role of Global Organizations
Bill Gates also praised organizations like The Global Fund and Gavi, which support vaccination and health projects in poor countries. He said that since 2002, The Global Fund alone has saved over 70 million lives from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
“Where a child is born is a matter of fate. But whether they survive or get treatment should not depend on luck.”
Gates’ Personal Commitment
Bill Gates announced that he will spend almost all his wealth in the next 20 years to improve health care worldwide. But he also stressed that individual action is not enough—governments must take responsibility too.
“I will spend almost all of my wealth on this sector in the next 20 years. But individual efforts are not enough. Governments must also step forward.”
Financial Barriers in Poor Countries
He noted that many poor nations spend less than 3% of their budgets on health because of heavy debt and high interest rates. Gates urged global financial institutions to reduce these burdens so poor nations can invest more in health.
Stories of Inspiration
Gates shared stories of inspiring people working in health. He mentioned Dr. Opeyemi Akinajo, who developed AI-based sensors to reduce maternal deaths, and Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Sadikin, who works for children’s healthcare.
He also praised two young Americans, Maddie and Emily Liflang, who became strong advocates for global health after volunteering in Kenya.
Vision for the Future
As a grandfather, Gates expressed his hope for a future where diseases like malaria and AIDS exist only in history books, and every child has the chance to live a healthy life.
“I am now a grandfather. I want my grandchildren to grow up in a world where malaria and AIDS exist only in history books, not in reality.”
Source: Jamuna TV
