Washington, D.C. – On Sunday, Bill Gates announced his $500 million donation to the developing world in fighting malaria and infectious diseases. Gates emphasized the Ebola outbreak was a wakeup call.
The former Microsoft Chief Executive Officer, Bill Gates announced that his own Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are donating $500 million. The announcement was made during the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene’s (ASTMH) 63rd annual meeting held in New Orleans. The donation was brought about by the humanitarian’s perception that urgent care and a call to action are necessary due to the Ebola outbreak in West African countries. In a statement, Gates said the $500 million donation will lessen the burden of parasitic infections, malaria, pneumonia, and other diarrheal diseases, which are the top causes of deaths and disabilities in developing countries. Aside from that pledge, Gates added that his organization has boosted its yearly funding for malaria by 30%.
Gates defined the Ebola outbreak as a “critical moment in the history of global health,” killing over 4,900 in West Africa. Thus, people should be provided with an urgent care near me facility and preventive measures to be ahead of such threats, including the dengue fever and drug-resistant malaria.
During his prepared remarks, Gates also stated that the Ebola outbreak interconnected the world. Health challenges that occur anywhere can create challenges all over, Gates added. He pointed out that overcoming such challenges can be done through dedication towards the reduction of the burdens of infectious diseases.
As a sort of an urgent care clinic and aide, the same foundation committed a $50 million donation in September, escalating the efforts in containing the Ebola epidemic.
The $500 million donation also includes about $150 million funding for the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative. The said amount will advance the development of the next-generation malaria vaccines. Nearly $29 million will be allotted to the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) in supporting the efforts of eliminating malaria in Southeast Asia’s Greater Mekong Sub-region as well as in Southern Africa.
Gates added that the efforts in finding an effective medication for malaria in Southeast Asia must serve as a strong warning, not only for urgent care clinics to be prepared during malaria cases, but for better and more effective research and development works.
Gates emphasized that eliminating malaria is necessary and an attainable objective by the mid of this century. Along with the $500 million donation announcement, a $60 million budget will be allotted towards the treatment research for elephantiasis, while other grants will be allocated towards the elimination of neglected infectious diseases.
