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Bill Gates Says There Will Be No More Poor Countries By 2035
Microsoft chairman and founder Bill Gates recently shared some of his viewpoints regarding the economy and healthcare with NDTV, India, during the annual 2014 World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in the city of Davos. WEF is a non-profit organization based in the eastern Alps of Switzerland that each year holds a meeting of about 2,500 top business leaders, such as Gates, as well as political leaders, to discuss issues of world importance.
His Prediction
Gates predicts that in 20 years there will be hardly any poor countries. Most people now live in middle-income countries, and they need to be more aware of the progress that has been made each year in the areas of the economy, nutrition and survival rates. India, for example, is on the path to reach zero percent aid, and philanthropy is growing there. But countries like Africa will continue to need help in order to become self-sufficient.
His Focus Now
Gates' full-time focus now is the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and helping children in poorer countries. He points out how important philanthropic giving is and that it needs to address the specific needs of poorer countries, such as Africa where children need vaccinations. India, for example, has increased their health care budget and increased polio vaccinations, so fewer children are dying each year. This is an area that India has done very well. But he also quickly points out that budgets need to be increased even more to provide vaccinations for other diseases and viruses.
The Importance of Philanthropy
Overall, Gates is optimistic about how middle-income countries have done very well and impresses the importance of increasing philanthropic giving to countries that are still in poverty. In addition, Gates indicated he would like to see health care issues debated more at the national level rather than just at the state level and that technology, too, plays an important role in improving education and healthcare in the world.