Gates to donate $10bn to child health

Microsoft founder Bill Gates today announced he will give $10bn (€7.16bn) over the next decade to research new vaccines and bring them to the world’s poorest countries.

Calling upon governments and business to also contribute, Mr Gates and his wife Melinda said the money will produce higher immunisation rates and help to ensure that 90% of children are protected against diseases such as diarrhoea and pneumonia in poorer nations.

“We must make this the decade of vaccines,” he said at the Davos economic forum.

“Vaccines already save and improve millions of lives in developing countries. Innovation will make it possible to save more children than ever before.”

Mr Gates said the commitment more than doubles the $4.5bn (€3.22bn) the foundation he and his wife set up has given to vaccine research over the years.

The foundation said up to 7.6 million children under five could be saved up to 2019 as a result of the donation. It also estimates that an additional 1.1 million would be saved if a malaria vaccine can be introduced by 2014. A tuberculosis vaccine would prevent even more deaths.

“Vaccines are a miracle,” said Mrs Gates. “With just a few doses, they can prevent deadly diseases for a lifetime.”

Margaret Chan, head of the World Health Organisation, called the contribution unprecedented and urged governments and private donors to add to the initiative.

“An additional two million deaths in children under five years could be prevented by 2015 through widespread use of new vaccines and a 10% increase in global vaccination coverage,” she said.

The Gates statement said the foundation would help to dramatically reduce child mortality in the next 10 years and urged others to pitch in with research funding and other financial support for poor children.