Bill Gates Seek Improved Healthcare Investment, Home-Grown AI Solutions
Improved investments, partnerships, and the development of homegrown artificial intelligence solutions for Africa’s health sector were at the heart of discussions at the Gatekeepers event organised by the Gates Foundation.
At the gathering, which attracted the crème de la crème in the country and beyond, including the Chair of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates; Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; Gombe State governor, Inuwa Yahaya; Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, among others, they agreed that healthcare on the continent can be better with improved funding and the development of local solutions, among other strategies.
During a panel discussion, Gates recalled the Gates Foundation’s investment in healthcare in Africa, particularly Nigeria. According to the Microsoft Co-Founder, the foundation has invested about $100bn in healthcare in the country over the past 25 years, hinging it on the Gates Foundation’s guiding principle that all lives have equal value.
$100bn Spent In 25 Years
“Over 70 per cent of what we’ve spent, the $100 billion we’ve spent in these last 25 years, went to global health, and throughout that 25 years, we’ve developed the partnerships, throughout Africa,” he said at the event anchored by celebrity host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu in the Victoria Island area of Lagos State on Wednesday.
Gates highlighted the importance of partnership in delivering quality healthcare, but believes governments across the board play critical roles in making the health sector thrive.
“Here in Nigeria, we’ve had amazing partners who understand the delivery and the way that we can work and help the government. The government, in the long run, has the responsibility for all of this work. We’re there to accelerate these systems,” he said.
He re-echoed the importance of good health, linking improved healthcare to a better economy. Gates also believes that the global child mortality rate can be reduced in Africa.
He expressed optimism that the global child mortality rate can be reduced by 50 per cent from the current five million cases worldwide.
“These next 20 years, you know, the countries in Africa will get to that status. So helping them accelerate that, helping them understand what the unique local challenges are, which things we need to make simpler, and bring the price down. That’s done, as a partnership, and the last 25 years went way better than I expected; that is, childhood death, globally and in Africa, was cut in more than half,” he said.
He also said artificial intelligence can help Africa fast-track its health goals.
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