Gates: Foundation to Invest $5B in Africa Over Next 5 Years
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
JOHANNESBURG — Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates said Sunday his foundation will invest another $5 billion in Africa over the next five years. Gates delivered the Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture ahead of Mandela Day, when South Africans are encouraged to donate 67 minutes of their time to help others. Gates is also in South Africa to attend a global AIDS conference that starts Monday.
Gates said the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has already invested more than $9 billion in Africa. Health is a major focus.
Gates warned that if the world doesn’t come up with more creative ways to make HIV treatment and prevention accessible, “the hard-earned gains made against HIV in sub-Saharan Africa over the last 15 years could actually be reversed” as high birth rates continue.
He said Africa is the world’s youngest continent in terms of demographics. “By 2050, 40 percent of the world’s children will live on this continent,” he said.
Source: NY Times (link opens in a new window)
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