The Gates Foundation chairman spoke at the foundation's event held at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa on Monday, June 2. The event was attended by over 12,000 participants, including African leaders, health workers, development experts, and youth.
He reiterated his commitment to donate $200 billion over the next 20 years, most of which will go to Africa, to support health systems and sustainable development.
Gates said that resilient health systems cannot be achieved without African leadership and homegrown solutions. He emphasised that unleashing human potential through health and education should place every African country on a path to prosperity.
'By unleashing human potential through health and education, every country in Africa should be on a path to prosperity â€" and that path is an exciting thing to be part of,' he added.
He stressed the transformative role AI can play in healthcare, citing Rwanda's use of AI-powered ultrasound to detect high-risk pregnancies and improve maternal care.
He also highlighted how African youth are embracing AI and thinking critically about how to apply it to solve local problems.
In addition to Rwanda, Gates mentioned Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia as countries where data, technology, and community-based systems are being used to reduce child mortality and combat diseases like malaria and HIV.
'I've always been inspired by the hard work of Africans even in places with very limited resources. The kind of fieldwork to get solutions out, even in the most rural areas, has been incredible,' Gates remarked.
In Rwanda, companies such as eFiche are providing AI-powered health services that include disease prediction, health data management, and advanced diagnostics.
Recently, Rwanda's Ministry of Health launched a new AI-driven platform that allows community health workers to receive training via mobile phones, removing the need for in-person sessions.
During his speech, Gates called for deeper investment in primary healthcare, describing it as foundational to improving well-being and reducing inequality across the continent.
'With primary healthcare, what we've learned is that helping the mother be healthy and have great nutrition before she gets pregnant, while she is pregnant, delivers the strongest results,' he said.
'Ensuring the child receives good nutrition in their first four years as well makes all the difference.'
The event also featured remarks from international figures such as WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, and advocate Graça Machel, who called for sustained partnerships to advance Africa's development goals.
Machel described Gates' long-standing collaboration with Africa as a reflection of his respect for African leadership, ideas, and innovation.
'We are counting on Mr Gates' steadfast commitment to continue walking this path of transformation alongside us," Machel stated.
Gates committed to giving 99% of his wealth to charity as the Gates Foundation marked its 25th anniversary last month. At the event, he also shared his plan to wind down the foundation by 2045.
He noted that this decision was inspired in part by Andrew Carnegie's 1889 essay, 'The Gospel of Wealth,' which argued that the rich should return their fortunes to society.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
