Bill Gates is one of those names that everyone knows. A brilliant mind, a man of the world and eager to satisfy his endless curiosity, the North American loves to know what is happening in the most remote places on the planet.
Therefore, it is not uncommon to see it in different countries around the world, looking for everything that deals with innovation and research, in the places where things are happening. And that ambition for knowledge made him spend a few days in Senegal, a country on the African continent.
And in his blog, as stated Infobae, described how fascinating and motivating it was to see the achievements that have been achieved in that country, mainly in relation to public health. This, thanks to effective community work and policies that have worked. “Since 1992, child stunting has been cut in half. Since 2000, infant mortality before the age of five has decreased by 70%,” he commented on his blog.
In addition, he highlighted other improvements such as the increase in births in health centers from 2005 to date, which increased from 62% to 80%. “This data highlights the tangible progress that has been made.”
Not everyone can marvel at Bill Gates
Of course, one of the most memorable moments for the Americans was the visit to the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, a leading institution in global health research.
The magnate said that it is a “multifaceted” facility: essential in tracking outbreaks in the region, it performs millions of diagnoses annually, functions as a training center for future healthcare and biomanufacturing professionals, and is restarting its vaccine production.
In addition, he met prominent scientists from Senegal, who have been key to improving the situation in the country. The North American acknowledged admiration for “their commitment and deep knowledge of local communities, and it was enriching to discuss with them their adaptive strategies in the face of emerging challenges. For example, with the emergence of COVID-19 in 2020, IPD quickly established a test production facility and is currently expanding this capacity to include other vital tests, such as measles and rubella.”
Gates’ stay in Senegal reaffirmed his belief in the power of science and innovation. “There is no doubt that our world faces some difficult problems. But when brilliant scientists dedicate their talents to tackling the world’s greatest challenges, progress becomes possible and we move closer to a future where all people live healthy lives,” he said.
Five of the best innovations that amazed Gates
1. An AI trainer teaching Indian healthcare workers how to treat high-risk pregnancies
“Amrita Mahale and the ARMMAN team are using artificial intelligence to improve the odds for new mothers in India. “Her language model will be able to teach health care workers how to treat high-risk pregnancies,” she commented.
2. A new way to track mosquitoes at the molecular level to stop malaria
“Isabella Oyier of the Kenya Medical Research Institute is fighting mosquito evolution. She uses molecular epidemiology to track mosquitoes that have the genes that cause drug resistance and integrate it into national malaria surveillance and monitoring efforts. This will give stakeholders more information about where resistance is spreading and how to stop it,” she noted.
3. A low-cost mRNA vaccine platform that puts manufacturing where it’s needed most
“A company called Quantoom has developed a new platform that will make it cheaper and easier to build and operate factories that can be adapted to make different mRNA vaccines,” Gate said. In addition, he noted that $40 million is being invested to expand local manufacturing of mRNA vaccines in low- and middle-income countries.
4. A new drug development platform that will better prepare us for the next pandemic
“The Decoy Therapeutics team is working to accelerate the drug development process with its promising new biological platform,” he said. The idea is that lipopeptide molecules could be used to inhibit a virus’s fusion machinery and prevent it from infecting cells.
5. A novel approach to treating a common microbiome disorder
“The good bacteria in our microbiome play an essential role in keeping bad bacteria at bay. When that balance is lost, diseases such as bacterial vaginosis develop,” he noted. Since current treatments are not as effective, she looks forward to “talking to Melein Zhu and her team about a new approach they are exploring.”
This approach is all about using oleic acids to inhibit the growth of a “gateway” bacteria that can lead to more bad microbes, in addition to promoting the growth of good bacteria.