Northern Nigeria Newborn Has 15% Chance Of Dy!ng Before Age Five, Bill Gates Raises Alarm

American billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates has expressed concern over the elevated child mortality rate in Northern Nigeria.

On Monday, September 22, Gates declared that “a child born in northern Nigeria has a 15% chance of dy!ng before the age of five”. He called on governments to counteract global health funding reductions.

During a Reuters Newsmaker event in New York, Gates highlighted that the world faces a critical juncture, with millions of children at risk of death if funding declines too sharply.

“You can either be part of improving that or act like that doesn’t matter,” Gates stated in an interview prior to the foundation’s annual Goalkeepers event in New York on Monday.

The Gates Foundation will contribute $912 million to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. This pledge comes in response to significant aid reductions from governments worldwide, particularly the United States.

“I am not capable of making up what the government cuts, and I don’t want to create an illusion of that,” he said regarding his commitment.

Earlier this year, Gates vowed to donate nearly his entire $200 billion fortune by 2045, accelerating his plans due to the pressing global need.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli