At the 2025 Goalkeepers event in New York, Bill Gates issued a powerful call to action, warning that “humanity is at a crossroads” as millions of children’s lives hang in the balance. Addressing over 1,000 global leaders, Gates outlined a roadmap to cut child deaths in half by 2045—but only if governments act now to protect and expand health funding.
Gates revealed that global health aid dropped by 21% between 2024 and 2025, sinking to a 15-year low. He cautioned that steep cuts to development assistance threaten decades of progress that reduced annual child mortality from 10 million in 2000 to under 5 million today. “The choices leaders make now will determine what kind of future we leave the next generation,” Gates said.
To help reverse this trend, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $912 million to the Global Fund for its 2026–2028 replenishment. Since 2002, the Global Fund has saved more than 70 million lives by combating AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, generating an estimated $19 in health and economic returns for every dollar invested.
Gates outlined a bold plan to accelerate progress, calling for renewed investment in proven initiatives such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and prioritization of primary health care systems. He emphasized scaling innovative solutions, including new malaria prevention tools, long-acting HIV drugs, AI-driven healthcare delivery, and maternal vaccines to protect newborns from deadly respiratory illnesses.
The event also celebrated global health champions. Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez received the 2025 Global Goalkeeper Award for boosting funding to the Global Fund and Gavi. Other honorees included Indian health pioneers Dr. Abhay Bang and Dr. Rani Bang, football star David Beckham, Ugandan youth advocate Krystal Mwesiga Birungi, and storyteller John Green, among others, recognized for driving child survival initiatives worldwide.
Despite funding challenges, Gates remained optimistic. “Our long-term prospects are better than most people can imagine,” he said, urging leaders to “do more with less” and deliver lifesaving innovations to those most in need.
The Goalkeepers event, co-hosted by musician Jon Batiste and actress Olivia Wilde, highlighted stories of resilience and groundbreaking technologies already saving lives. Gates concluded by reaffirming his historic commitment to give away his wealth and invest $200 billion over the next 20 years, aiming to end preventable child deaths, eradicate deadly diseases, and lift millions out of poverty before the foundation sunsets its operations.
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