Originally published May 26 2005
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donates $250 million to combat health challenges in developing countries
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Bill Gates announced an additional $250 million, on top of the initial $200 million pledged in 2003, to combat health concerns in developing countries via the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation is one of the biggest of its kind, and Gates, who said he was moved by the inequities suffered by poorer nations, said he believes science and technology can do more to advance health in the next decade than has been achieved in the last half a century. So far, 1,500 problems have been submitted by 70 countries, and the first grant is expected to be awarded this summer.
Gates pledges $250M more to fight disease From staff and wire reports The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on Monday more than doubled the amount pledged to battle widespread public-health challenges in developing countries.
Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced a fresh $250 million will be going to a program called Grand Challenges in Global Health.
The Gates Foundation in 2003 helped launch the initiative with a $200 million pledge.
The goal: to wipe out deadly diseases in poor nations.
Gates, the world's richest individual, announced the pledge boost at the World Health Assembly in Geneva.
He was moved by inequities endured by citizens of developing nations, who he says are widely ignored by pharmaceutical companies.
"I was stunned as I learned about these gaps," Gates told the Associated Press.
The Grand Challenges consists of 14 categories of problems, ranging from lack of basic vaccinations to the need for improved nutrition and better record keeping.
By targeting those problems, Gates believes science and technology can do more to advance global health in the next decade than has been done in the past half-century.
Some 1,500 problems already have been submitted from 70 countries, and about 450 scientists have been asked to submit full grant proposals.
The foundation expects to award the first of $450 million in grants this summer.
"The idea of hiring very smart people and getting them to take on very optimistic goals and finding partners and believing in science --- that's very similar to the work I do at Microsoft," Gates told AP.
Gates said he and his wife, Melinda, came to the realization that "by acting now you could have such a dramatic effect on this generation and future generations."
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