Gates Foundation and OpenAI invest $50m to bolster Africa’s health system with AI

The Gates Foundation and OpenAI are in partnership to roll out $50 million health-centred intervention funds for African countries. The project, set to start with Rwanda, will focus on using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve health systems. 

According to a Wednesday report by Reuters, the project, called Horizon1000, will work hand-in-hand with African leaders on how best to use emerging technologies to enhance health. 

According to Bill Gates, Horizon1000 aims to reach 1,000 primary health clinics and surrounding communities across several African countries by 2028. Gates, who has always described AI as one of the most transformative technologies ever developed, sees the technology as an innovative tool to address health challenges.

“In poorer countries with enormous health worker shortages and lack of health systems infrastructure, AI can be a game-changer in expanding access to quality care,” he said. 

Bill Gates

In a number of its AI-health initiatives, the Gates Foundation set up an AI health hub in Kigali, Rwanda, last year.

The intervention comes at a time when many third-world and developing countries are struggling with aid from international organisations due to cuts in budgets. Gates recently tagged this development as a major cause of the rise in preventable child deaths this century.

The African healthcare systems have been plagued by severe challenges, such as underfunding, inadequate infrastructure, and shortages of skilled staff. This has led to poor quality care, an increase in disease and preventable deaths, and created a barrier to access to quality health.

In addition, most African countries still fall short of the Abuja Declaration’s goal of 15% of GDP for health, leading to weak systems.

Image Credit: WHO

To Gates, intervention programs and integration of AI will be valuable in African countries with severe shortages of trained health workers. He noted that data estimates suggest sub-Saharan Africa is short of around six million healthcare professionals.

Also Read: Rwanda secures $17.5m investment from Bill & Melinda Gates to establish AI Scaling Hub.

Gates continued interest in the African healthcare system 

Gates has always shown interest in the African healthcare system through various efforts to awaken its infrastructure.

In 2025, during the foundation’s 25th anniversary of work on the continent, Gates pledged a $200 billion intervention fund, which will be distributed over the next 20 years. 

“I recently committed to giving away my wealth over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa,” Gates declared

This investment aims to save lives, reduce preventable maternal and child deaths, and combat infectious diseases in Africa. The project builds on the foundation’s over two-decade legacy across the region. It has reportedly saved more than 80 million lives through initiatives like Gavi and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

During the milestone mark, Gates noted that the region’s future depends on unlocking human potential through health and education. 

“Our foundation has an increasing commitment to Africa. We’ve been here for over 20 years, and we will continue to work side by side with you to build a healthier and more prosperous future,” he said during the address.

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