Bill Gates urges African leaders to prioritise primary healthcare investment
Chair of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, has called on African leaders to place greater focus on investing in primary healthcare, describing it as the most impactful way to improve the health and wellbeing of people across the continent.
Speaking at the Nelson Mandela Hall of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Gates addressed more than 12,000 participants—including government officials, diplomats, health workers, development partners, and youth leaders—both in person and online.
“Investing in primary healthcare has the greatest impact on health and wellbeing,” Gates said, emphasising the foundational role of strong health systems in driving national development.
He noted that healthy mothers and children are key to long-term societal wellbeing. “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. Ensuring the child receives good nutrition in their first four years as well makes all the difference.”
Gates commended countries like Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Zambia for demonstrating leadership and innovation in improving healthcare. He cited examples such as expanding frontline health services, using data to reduce child mortality, and deploying advanced tools against malaria and HIV—even amid fiscal constraints.
Reflecting on over 20 years of work in Africa, Gates praised the resilience and creativity of Africans in tackling health challenges, even in resource-constrained settings. “The kind of field work to get solutions out, even in the most rural areas, has been incredible,” he said.
Gates also highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping healthcare across the continent. He applauded young African innovators who are integrating AI into solutions for local problems.
“Just like Africa leapfrogged traditional banking with mobile money, you have a chance to build next-generation healthcare systems with AI at their core,” he said. He pointed to Rwanda as a leading example, using AI-powered ultrasound tools to detect high-risk pregnancies early and deliver timely, life-saving care.
Reaffirming his foundation’s commitment, Gates said a major share of the foundation’s planned $200 billion spend over the next 20 years will go to Africa. He stressed that priority will be given to governments that focus on the health and wellbeing of their people.
“Our first African office was here in Ethiopia about 13 years ago. Now we have offices in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Senegal. That’s a great way for us to strengthen partnerships,” he said.
As part of his ongoing visit, Gates will travel to Ethiopia and Nigeria to observe health and development initiatives first-hand, particularly in the context of reduced foreign aid. In Nigeria, he is scheduled to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other federal and state leaders to discuss primary healthcare reforms.
He will also attend a Goalkeepers Nigeria event centred on Africa’s innovation future and meet with local scientists and partners working on Nigeria’s national AI strategy and scalable health solutions.
