Bill Gates: Humanity at a turning point to save millions of children

At the Goalkeepers 2025 event, Bill Gates, Chairman of the Gates Foundation, issued an urgent call to world leaders to commit to saving the lives of millions of children by 2045. Addressing an audience of more than 1,000 leaders from government, community, philanthropic, and private sectors, Mr. Gates emphasized the importance of today's financial choices and their impact on children's futures.

“ Humanity is at a turning point. The choices we make today will determine the future of the next generation ,” Gates said. He highlighted the need to maintain and increase development aid in the health sector, as donor countries reduce their contributions in the face of internal economic challenges.

A recent study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) indicates that global development aid will fall by 21% between 2024 and 2025, reaching its lowest level in 15 years. These cuts threaten decades of progress in reducing child mortality, which has fallen from 10 million to fewer than 5 million children per year since 2000.

Mr. Gates announced a new commitment of $912 million over three years to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. This fund, which has saved more than 70 million lives since 2002, is essential to continue advancing global health.

Gates outlined a roadmap to halve the number of child deaths over the next 20 years. Key strategies include:

• Renew investments in proven initiatives like the Global Fund and Gavi.
• Prioritize primary health care for early detection of childhood illnesses.
• Invest in research and development for medical innovations, including new vaccines and treatments.

The event also honored the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez , with the Global Goalkeeper Award 2025 for his significant efforts in health and education. Ten other champions were recognized for their contribution to child survival around the world.

Speakers from various countries shared inspiring stories of innovation and resilience, illustrating how practical solutions can transform children's lives.

Mr. Gates expressed optimism that governments will be able to restore and increase their foreign aid. "We must go further so that the next generation grows up in a world where no child dies from preventable causes," he concluded.

The Goalkeepers event will continue with a report planned for late 2025, highlighting the impact of leaders' decisions on child survival.

Djami