The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has recently announced that it will allocate $2.5 billion over the next five years for research and development in the field of women’s and girls’ health worldwide.
According to a report by the Associated Press on Wednesday, August 6, the foundation stated: “Research into women’s health has been historically underfunded, and many urgent conditions affecting women remain under-studied, under-diagnosed, and overlooked.”
Rufong Zuoan Cheng, Director of Women’s Health Innovation at the Gates Foundation, referred to a 2021 McKinsey study which revealed that only 1% of all medical research (excluding cancer-related studies) is focused on women’s health.
This announcement comes against the backdrop of the United States reducing its support for global maternal health programs during the first seven months of Donald Trump’s administration.
Following the U.S. funding cuts, approximately 400 health centers—primarily focused on women’s health—were shut down in Afghanistan.
It’s worth noting that the Gates Foundation had previously committed to spending its endowment primarily on health over the next 20 years.
While the Gates Foundation emphasizes delivering services to women and girls, it’s important to highlight that in Afghanistan, women and girls face severe restrictions in accessing healthcare, education, and employment. These limitations have made it extremely challenging for international organizations to provide humanitarian aid in the country.
