HIV AIDS gets Fresh Attention with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

HIV AIDS

“I am optimistic about the future” were the words of Bill Gates, former Microsoft Chairman, and current Co-Chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as the special guest speaker for the college. In the current global economic downturn, it’s interesting to know why men like bill gates are still optimistic.

The event was at the Annenberg Leadership and Management Speaker Series at Harvey Mudd College which is “funded by the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Fund for Leadership Development.” “A lecture series designed to engage the Harvey Mudd College community to think and discuss roles of leadership in the world” and which “brings together high-profile speakers who can forge an informative perspective.”

First on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation of which Gates is co-chairman, he explained that “the focus of the Foundation is to donate money to disadvantaged people around the world” calling it “The poorest of the poor” and adding that  ”the programs of the Foundation concentrate on global health, education, HIV/AIDS, libraries and agricultural research.”

In response to the question about “what struck him about the faculty?”  Bill Gates said, “It has energy and optimism and several products will succeed and have a meaningful impact adding “I am optimistic about the future.”

On a rather down side however, he said “Even with innovation and a new vaccine, it does not support the needs of the poorest” adding that “Naturally, we do not get to spread around food and health. Pakistan and Northern Nigeria supplies of food? Population growth down? How do we fund the future health care and pensions? These are optimistic and tough problems.”