What We Learned from the Gates Presentation
We asked you to watch the Gates Presentation “Living Proof: Why We Are Impatient Optimists” and tell us what you learned for 500 points. Here are some of the responses so far:
I learned that there are many positive success stories regarding U.S. aid in poverty stricken areas. However, there is still much more that needs to be done. I also learned that for every two people taught how to live with and manage HIV, 5 more people are infected.
- Kaitlyn Treacy, St. Petersburg College
I knew that MDG #5, to improve maternal health, was seeing the least progress, but I had no idea how dire it was or the death rates of newborn babies. The fact that 4 million children die each year from things like hypothermia and infections, which are the product of not being wrapped up in a blanket after birth or being washed too quickly, is terrifyingly sad. And don’t even get me started on Shayla’s story.
- Kate Alexander, Portland State University
While I knew that the United States only gave a little less than 1% of its annual GDP to foreign aid, I had no idea that such a small percentage of even that went to global health initiatives. 8 million dollars is nowhere near enough money to provide the types of care even America’s poorest expect. The fact that there are parts of the world that still have polio cases astounds me. Even though it is a small percentage I was under the impression that no one in today’s time had that disease. I knew that vaccines were scarce in certain poorer countries, but I had no idea such basic, not to mention somewhat old, vaccines are not provided.
- Sarah Hunter, Boston University
For every two individuals put on life saving retroviral medicine, five more people are infected. Bill and Melinda Gates throughout the webcast stress how successful the program has been in providing aid to these impoverished communities, but they do an amazing job of showing how much more work there is still to be done…after watching this webcast I feel like I have a much better idea of what is being done to eradicate extreme poverty and what I can do to ensure that these great programs continue to exist and succeed.
- Sarah Atwill, Arizona State-Tempe
I learned that many people are alive because of U.S. efforts. They are the “living proof” of U.S. aid. Last year under 9 million children were dieing. 50 years ago, almost 20 million died. Bill Gates mentioned that vaccines are the most effective way to save lives. The U.S. gives 1% of budget to foreign aid and 0.22% to global health. This number has gone up in recent years but should go up more.
- Sabrina Rocco, St. Petersburg College
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