New York: Philanthropist Bill Gates has announced a landmark pledge of $912 million to the Global Fund, aiming to combat AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria worldwide. Speaking at a Reuters Newsmaker event in New York, Gates emphasized that the global fight against these deadly diseases depends not only on private contributions but also on renewed commitment from governments around the world, many of which have reduced aid in recent years.
Gates described the current moment as a “crossroads” for global health, warning that millions of lives are at stake. Highlighting stark realities, he pointed out that a child born in northern Nigeria today still faces a 15 percent chance of dying before their fifth birthday. “You can either be part of improving that or act like it doesn’t matter,” Gates said, stressing the moral urgency of global health funding.
The pledge aligns with the Gates Foundation’s ongoing support for the Global Fund, matching a similar contribution made in 2022 under the Fund’s three-year budgeting cycle. The timing is critical: according to the U.S. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, foreign aid for global development has declined sharply, dropping by 21 percent between 2024 and 2025 and reaching a 15-year low. Gates warned that these cutbacks endanger decades of progress in preventing and treating life-threatening illnesses in vulnerable regions.
While private donations can make a difference, Gates stressed they cannot replace government contributions. He urged sustained backing for institutions such as the Global Fund and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and highlighted the importance of rapidly deploying new medical innovations. Among these, the long-acting HIV preventive drug lenacapavir was singled out as a promising tool to reduce new infections in high-risk populations.
Gates noted that a few countries have stepped up their contributions despite the global decline. Spain, for instance, has increased its support to the Global Fund by 12 percent and to Gavi by 30 percent this year. Reaffirming his personal commitment, Gates also reiterated plans to donate nearly his entire $200 billion fortune by 2045, accelerating the timeline in response to pressing global health needs.
Gates’ pledge and call to action come at a pivotal moment, highlighting the fragile balance between private philanthropy and government responsibility in ensuring global health security.