Bill Gates Highlights Child Mortality Crisis in Northern Nigeria, Calls for Increased Global Health Funding
Bill Gates has raised alarm over rising child deaths in Northern Nigeria, citing aid cutbacks.
He pledged $912 million to the Global Fund and urged governments to sustain health funding.
American billionaire and philanthropist Bill Gates has expressed deep concern over the high rate of child deaths in Northern Nigeria, warning that international aid cutbacks could intensify the crisis.
Speaking at a Reuters Newsmaker event in New York on Monday, September 22, Gates observed that children born in the region face a significant risk of dying before their fifth birthday. He appealed to governments and donors to halt or reverse reductions in global health spending, stressing that millions of lives depend on sustained funding.
According to Gates, the world is at a pivotal moment in the fight against preventable diseases. He cautioned that ignoring the situation could undo decades of progress and endanger the most vulnerable populations.
Ahead of the Gates Foundation’s annual Goalkeepers event, he announced a $912 million pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. This commitment follows sweeping aid reductions by several governments, including the United States, which Gates said cannot be offset by private donations alone.
He emphasized that while philanthropic contributions are important, they cannot fully replace public sector investment in health programs.
Earlier this year, Gates disclosed plans to donate nearly all of his $200 billion fortune by 2045, accelerating the timeline due to urgent global health challenges.
