By Sama Marwan,
American billionaire and global health advocate Bill Gates has warned of the potentially catastrophic consequences of cutting U.S. funding allocated to global health and development programs, stressing that such a move could threaten the lives of millions of people, particularly in Africa.
In a post on his account on the platform “X” (formerly Twitter), Gates shared a link to an analytical article published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, highlighting the serious potential repercussions of any significant reduction in U.S. funding for health programs in low-income countries. He noted that nearly 14 million people could face death by 2030 if such cuts were implemented by the U.S. administration.
Gates wrote in his post: “U.S. global health and development aid is estimated to have saved 92 million lives over the past 20 years. We cannot afford to lose that kind of progress.”
The article pointed out that proposed cuts in the upcoming U.S. budget threaten key programs such as combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and childhood immunizations, which could lead to severe health setbacks in regions heavily dependent on this support, especially in Africa.
In a related context, Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, stated that most of his wealth will be spent on improving health and education services in Africa over the next twenty years. The 69-year-old added that “by unlocking human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity.”
During a speech last month at an event at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Gates urged young innovators in Africa to think about how to build artificial intelligence tools to improve healthcare across the continent, noting that technology can play a crucial role in bridging health gaps.
Last month, Gates announced that he would donate 99% of his vast fortune, which is expected to reach $200 billion (around £150 billion) by 2045, the year his foundation plans to wind down its operations.
He also stated in his speech: “I have recently committed to donating my wealth over the next 20 years. Most of this funding will be spent helping you tackle challenges here in Africa.”
