Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that cuts to US global health funding could result in the deaths of eight million children under the age of five by 2040.
By Afolabi Ayodele
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that cuts to US global health funding could result in the deaths of eight million children under the age of five by 2040.
In a post on X, Gates cited a Lancet study and stressed that abrupt withdrawal of aid threatens decades of progress in reducing child mortality. “That’s how many children live in California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio combined,” he wrote.
He added, “When the United States and other governments suddenly cut their aid budgets, I know for a fact that more children will die.”
Gates said global health support has saved millions of lives over the past 25 years, particularly through partnerships with local governments to deliver life-saving interventions. He warned that programmes tackling tuberculosis, malaria, and access to essential medicines are already slowing down due to the funding cuts.
Referring to his recent visits to Nigeria and Ethiopia, Gates noted that the impact is visible on the ground and called on US Congress to restore funding for programmes such as PEPFAR and the Global Fund. “It’s not too late to change course,” he said.
He also criticised Tesla CEO Elon Musk for supporting the shutdown of USAID, which he said has led to a halt in life-saving deliveries and a potential resurgence of diseases like polio, measles, and HIV.
“The picture of the world’s richest man killing the world’s poorest children is not a pretty one,” Gates told The Financial Times, accusing Musk of ignorance.
Gates admitted that while private philanthropy can help, it cannot replace government-scale aid. The Gates Foundation plans to expand its annual budget to $10 billion, but he emphasised that the role of governments remains critical.
“I think governments will come back to caring about children surviving,” Gates concluded.
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