- He also disclosed that the foundation plans to raise its spending in the future, with a focus on improving primary healthcare.
Bill Gates, the Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has revealed why Nigeria gets the lion share of intervention funds allocated by the foundation in Africa.
Gates made the revelation during an interview with selected journalists on the sidelines of the 2024 NutriVision Dialogue on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said the foundation’s allocation of more funds to Nigeria than any other country was not unconnected to the West Africa’s nation huge population.
He said, “We spend a lot in Asia, but we spend even more in Africa. The country where we spend the most in Africa is Nigeria.
“That makes sense because of the population and the incredible needs that are here. That means that I’ve literally spent billions in Nigeria.
“I’m glad that things like the child mortality rate have come down, but we could do a lot better.”
Gates emphasised that reducing global health inequality and eradicating measles, malaria, and polio are top priorities for the foundation.
He also disclosed that the foundation plans to raise its spending in the future, with a focus on improving primary healthcare.
“Our work is almost entirely focused on primary healthcare because the impact per dollar is dramatically greater than anywhere else,” he said.
Beyond health, Gates noted that the foundation also invests heavily in the agricultural sector, highlighting improved agricultural productivity as a crucial factor for Nigeria’s economic development.
He stressed that this goal could be achieved through access to high-yield, climate-resistant seeds, fertilisers, improved and timely information, and better weather predictions for farmers.
According to him, these measures will significantly boost agricultural output and reduce food costs.
The philanthropist also stated that the foundation supports partners in implementing food fortification for staple foods, which enhances the nutritional quality of the food supply and provides public health benefits.
He stressed that access to a variety of low-cost foods, particularly milk and eggs, is crucial for reducing malnutrition.
Gates stated that the time is right to utilise innovative ideas and tools in the health and agricultural sectors to substantially reduce malnutrition.
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