Bill Gates has renewed his call for urgent global action to eliminate polio and malaria, warning that declining health aid threatens to reverse decades of progress. Speaking ahead of major funding commitments expected in Abu Dhabi, Gates emphasised that global momentum is weakening at a dangerous moment.
The campaign brings together the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, UAE leadership, and the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, alongside partners in Africa, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Despite a 20-year UAE–Gates partnership, rising child deaths — from 4.6 million to 4.8 million — and sharp cuts in donor contributions are raising alarm.
Experts say renewed financing is critical to keep vaccination drives on track and protect millions of vulnerable children worldwide.
