Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates on Wednesday announced a contribution of an additional $150 million toward fighting the coronavirus pandemic Wednesday, on top of the $100 million he pledge in February, Politico reports.
The $250 million overall commitment is intended “to support development of diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines; help strengthen African and South Asian health systems; and help mitigate the social and economic impacts of the virus,” a news release from the foundation said, according to Politico.
The spike in Gates’ charitable giving came hours after publicly slamming President Donald Trump’s actions during the unprecedented public health crisis by ordering a 60-day freeze on U.S. funding of the World Health Organization, a move that was met with alarm by the medical community and condemnation from international leaders.
“Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds,” Gates wrote on Twitter early Wednesday morning. “Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them. The world needs @WHO now more than ever.”
Halting funding for the World Health Organization during a world health crisis is as dangerous as it sounds. Their work is slowing the spread of COVID-19 and if that work is stopped no other organization can replace them. The world needs @WHO now more than ever.
— Bill Gates (@BillGates) April 15, 2020
Trump has repeatedly accused the WHO of fealty to China and mismanagement of the early stages of the global coronavirus outbreak, while defenders of the United Nations agency have pointed to its important work in slowing the spread of the disease around the world.
