Microsoft founder Bill Gates says that most of his $200bn (£150bn) fortune will be spent on improving health and education services in Africa over the next 20 years.
Gates announced last month that he would give away 99% of his vast fortune by 2045, by when his foundation planned to end its operations.
Gates said his foundation, which has a long history of operating in Africa, would focus on improving primary healthcare.
Gates pointed to Rwanda as an example, saying it was already improving services using AI-enabled ultrasound to identify high-risk pregnancies.
Along with Paul Allen, Gates founded Microsoft in 1975, and the company soon became a dominant force in software and other tech industries.
Over the next two decades, Microsoft founder Bill Gates plans to use the majority of his $200 billion (£150 billion) fortune to improve health and education services in Africa.
“Every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity by unleashing human potential through health and education,” the 69-year-old stated.
During his speech in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he also encouraged young African innovators to consider developing artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance healthcare in the continent.
When his foundation was set to shut down in 2045, Gates declared last month that he would donate 99 percent of his enormous fortune.
“I recently promised to donate my wealth over the course of the next 20 years. “Most of that money will be used to assist you in tackling issues in Africa,” he stated during a speech at the African Union (AU) headquarters.
He made the announcement during a “moment of crisis,” according to Graça Machel, the former first lady of Mozambique.
“We are relying on Mr. Gates’ unwavering dedication to continue pursuing this transformational journey with us,” she stated.
US President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy has resulted in the US government cutting aid to Africa, including programs to treat HIV/AIDS patients. This has raised concerns about the continent’s healthcare system’s future.
Gates stated that the improvement of primary healthcare would be the main objective of his foundation, which has a long history of working in Africa.
According to his findings, “the best outcomes are achieved when the mother is healthy and nourished before becoming pregnant and during her pregnancy,” he stated.
“It is crucial to make sure the child is fed well during their first four years of life. “.
The tech billionaire claimed that mobile phones had transformed banking in Africa and that AI should now be applied for the continent’s advantage in a letter to young innovators.
“Africa largely avoided traditional banking, and now you have a chance, as you build your next generation healthcare systems, to think about how AI is built into that,” he stated.
As an example, Gates cited Rwanda, which was already enhancing services by identifying high-risk pregnancies with AI-enabled ultrasound.
Ending avoidable maternal and infant deaths, ensuring that the next generation is spared from life-threatening infectious diseases, and rescuing millions of people from poverty are the three main goals of the Gates Foundation.
In a statement, it stated that “the foundation will sunset its operations at the end of 20 years.”.
Gates announced last month that he would start giving more through his foundation.
In one blog post, he stated, “I am determined that ‘he died rich’ will not be one of the many things that people will say about me when I die.”.
According to Bloomberg, the fifth-richest person in the world could still become a billionaire if he gave away 99 percent of his wealth.
In 1975, Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft, which quickly rose to prominence in the software and other tech sectors.
In recent decades, Gates has gradually distanced himself from the business, leaving as chairman in 2014 after serving as CEO in 2000.
He claimed that philanthropist Warren Buffett and other investors had encouraged him to donate money.
Critics of his foundation, however, claim that Gates abuses its charitable status to evade taxes and that it has excessive control over the world health apparatus.
