An Audacious Goal

This week in Seattle, an extraordinary group of people -- scientists, policymakers, and advocates - came together for three days to discuss what can be done to stop malaria. Melinda and I issued a challenge to those attending the meeting. We asked them to begin charting a course to eradicate malaria - not just to control or reduce it, but to work toward a time when no one on earth is infected with malaria, and no mosquitoes carry the disease.

Today, malaria kills more than one million people every year, most of them children in Africa. That's the equivalent of losing every student in the New York City public school system in one year.

We know that eradicating malaria is an audacious goal. But advances in science and medicine, new political commitments, and the dedication of people like you have given the world an historic opportunity to conquer malaria. It won't be easy and it won't happen quickly, but I'm optimistic that we can make this disease history.

At the forum in Seattle, Melinda and I called on the U.S. presidential candidates to commit to expand the President's Malaria Initiative, a great program started by President Bush. I hope you will join us in asking all of the candidates to make this pledge and keep the fight against malaria on the national agenda.

I am confident that together, we can produce the energy, compassion, and commitment needed to win the fight against malaria.

To view a webcast of the Seattle malaria forum, visit here. For more information about how you can help fight malaria, visit here.

This post first appeared at the ONE campaign.

Comments

[editor]

Hey; why not buy out bush? He and Cheney would probably step down immediately from office if you just bought them out. 100 million? A billion? Money talks, that would be a great way to get them out of office. Buy them out of office.

[AurigaRa]

and save your country.

[keemia]

I like you a lot more as a phylanthropist than an entrepreneur, even though you know, and everyone knows, you made a damn good entrepreneur. You are one of handful of people in the world who can put major initiatives on the international "front page", and I appreciate what you and your wife are doing with your phylanthropic work. Please keep it up.

[VictorLudorum]

M

[VictorLudorum]

Bill ..Long ago during the British Control the city of Dehli got infested with too many flies. the British Administeration made a plan and took the citizens in confidance, and on a particular day they brought out a fleet of airial spraying planes, while the citizens sprayed thier homes inside with the 'DDT' and amazing ! really, for a couple of days there were no flies in Delhi.....­..
.

[HumeSkeptic]

I once watched you, Mr. Gates, in a joint news conference with Mrs. Gates and Mr. Buffet, following Mr. Buffet's announcement to donate a large sum to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. That did it.

I am forever in your debt for what you do for the poor and the disadvantaged around the world.

All I can say is "thank you". You are an inspiration to us all who believe in humanisms. And you give me a reason to be proud of being an American - a much needed reason for me to stay sane after what the NeoCons have done around the world in our name.

Thank you.

[Balzac]

Mosquito nets and condoms can save millions of lives.

[robotfog]

Also, mosquito condoms

[Boadicea]

Bill Gates! Wow!
So cool that you posted here!

I've long admired you, both for your vision in technology and especially for your work in education. I'm a teacher, and I've seen your foundation make a difference in schools. Thank you.


Regarding the malaria issue, I'll check out how I can help.

[zizyphus]

This is good work, Bill Gates.

Now, please throw your considerable weight behind the notion of restoring democracy and the rule of law in the United States.

[meese]

From the looks of the donations (as seen in the "fundrace" link on this site), Mr. Gates has switched parties and now as a full-time philanthropist has donated to Barack Obama's campaign.

[billysviez]

you do a lot of good Mr. Gates but, where will you spend your money when there is no America left? We need to get Our Country back before it's too late to stop these criminals in D.C.

[SharonWantsToTalk]

Yes Bill, I agree this is worthy. While we work on eradicating malaria, please work on educating the women of Africa. Africa is still in the lead for population growth in the world. I know this sounds horrible, but if all disease were removed from that continent tomorrow, the population explosion would be even more unsustainable. The most effective way to control population growth is to educate the women. But I'm sure you already understand that. Thank you for your extraordinary efforts already in place.

[maddogbitesback]

Bill - I ditto that. I always donate to charities where women are educated and given economic worth. This assures better health and education for the far fewer children since women do not want to have twelve children ten of whom die. They want two who will live and have a better life. Anyway thanks for being a role model for Americans. These days the country is in need of a man who doesn't believe money is the be all and end all but simply something that buys what you need and then can help others. If only Bush understood that, the country would be a better, happier place where wealth was not the goal but health and happiness.

[HarryN]

I am an expatriate living in Uganda. I have had malaria several times over the las 2 years. It can be cured quickly with available drugs in 3 days, with the symptoms no worse than a bad case of the flu. The problem is that he medications are not widely available for free to the populous. Insecticide nets are also a major help.
What is needed is a population control program similar to what China did 20 years ago. I know of many men who have father 20,30 and even 40 children. They seldom have the resources to feed their children, much less provide education and medicine. Unhappily President Musevini is pushing doubling the population, guaranteeing that the poverty cycle will continue.

[FaceReality2]

Would his money be better spent providing the money to pay poor people around the world, here and abroad, to undergo tubal ligations and vasectomies, and providing the surgeons and facilities? I tend to think so. The world is overpopulated.

[mrcharlie]

There are few people I admire more than Bill Gates. His intellect and the positive influence he has had on this world is stunning. His foundation has done tremendous good. But, in the wake of the Bush and Cheney disaster, I feel that he could have a huge impact by holding a news conference and stating his thoughts and views on this administration. America and the world will listen. America is being led down a path of endless war and economic ruin. It is time for everyone to speak out. It is not a time to be timid. It is a time for bold action and vision. The stakes could not be higher. I realize why Gates would want to stay above politics, but I think the times we live in are screaming for him to take a stand and state what he believes. Mr. Gates, I pray that you have read this comment and that it may influence you to step up. Your thoughts, views, solutions, and vision, could be the spark that begins to get people thinking again and eventually turn things around in the right direction. Thank you.

[HamletsMill]

As a software engineer who started out with DOS 1.0 in August 1981, I fully agree with what you are saying here mrcharlie. Bill, if you are reading these comments, best wishes to you and your wife. It has been a very interesting and long ride since the good old days of the Z80 instruction set.

[white mende man]

As my name suggests I am from Africa and I have seen the devastation caused by diseases that could easily be prevented by simple things as mosquito nets, overturning vessels that are prone to collect water and thus breed malaria carrying mosquitoes, access to clean water, water pumps and above all using the wealth of said countries to the betterment of the local population instead of lining the pockets of corrupt officials.

I applaud you Mr. Gates for making a difference to the well being and alleviating the suffering of so many. Thank you sir, to you and your wife and all those that help in your efforts.

[steverockson]

back in pioneer days malaria was indiginous to the united states (or what would become the united states). the way malaria was eradicated here was by removing the intermediate host from the equation (humans). we simply started living indoors. i know it's not that simple in underdeveloped nations, but mosquito nets and education can go a long way to making it happen.

[PerryWhite]

Mr. and Ms. Gates, what are your opinions on the use of DDT in Africa, particularly with respect to those self described environmentalists who oppose the use of DDT in Africa primarily for population control purposes?

[donaldw6]

I guess my opinion should be reserved since I've been a MS dev for years, but I can't resist noting that some of us always knew we were working for someone with serious principles. Just so ya know.

Thanks, sir. I'm ready to help any way I can.

[robotfog]

Get back to work, you!

[donaldw6]

Oops, sorry! Let's see... 431 errors on this build, 3 new meeting requests for Monday, Saturday Afternoon Bugfixing Bash and Pizza ... um, guess I gotta go. See you later!

[marleysghost]

I'd say it could be done, but you better work fast. As the world warms up mosquitoes and malaria will spread to more temperate zones. Race against time.

[suki21693]

If malaria spreads to more temperate (wealthy, populace, white) areas then DDT will be brought back.

We are more concerned about birds than we are poor black people in Africa.
We are not more concerned about birds than we are about ourselves.

[Viper]

Birds eat mosquitos and other insetcs by gthe tons..

In China during the sixties they killed birds to increase their crop yields. The insect populations greatly increased and ate MUCH more grain than the birds, creating famines.

They dont kill birds anymore.


Regards

[ImmanuelGoldstein]

Actually by the time DDT was banned it was on it's last legs as an insecticide. There were strains with literally hundreds of times the resistance of untouched strains.
Thats what DDT carpet bombing does. Its not effective on the long run.Bringi­ng DDT back will just bring back resistance.

[Annette]

Mosquitos became resistant to DDT in great numbers which is partially why it isn't used anymore.