Switzerland: "Global Health is the Cornerstone of Global Prosperity"

At the World Health Assembly, I was fortunate enough to hear Bill Gates address the WHO member states. I found his speech inspiring and he naturally conveyed the qualities of a true leader. He was enthusiastic and innovative, and had clear and lofty goals. In addition, he had a concise plan of action and the resources to achieve his goals. 

 Bill Gates first began his work in global health in 2005. In 6 years, he went from knowing little about global health to becoming arguably the largest influence on global health policy. (In the words of Travie McCoy- I wanna be a billionaire.) He addressed the problems of global health in the context of diseases limiting worldwide potential.  Bill Gates looked forward to healthier nations and therefore more productive, innovative and highly functioning nations. 

His newest global health initiative is increasing vaccine coverage. He encouraged all of the leaders present to make this the “decade of vaccines.” He choose vaccines because he believed it was elegant technology, yet inexpensive, easy to deliver and fruitful because it provides life-long protection from various disease. Bill Gates outlined his Global Vaccine Action Plan, which will serve as a blue-print for the decade of vaccines. His immunizations goals were to have every country above a 90% vaccine coverage rate and every district above an 80% coverage work. He stated that his Global Vaccine Action Plan could be easily implemented and his goals achievable if the leaders of the world ban together in this common fight against diseases. He concluded that the reduction in morbidity and mortality that would follow would drastically increase the productivity of nations because “global health is the cornerstone of global prosperity.”