The Health Crazies

If you are interested in public health, then you probably know that there are a number of foundations and organizations out there that champion public health initiatives and provide money for improved health around the world. One of the most prominent programs is the Public Health Program at the Gates Foundation, set up by technology pioneer Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda.

An organization with that much money and influence, though, can be the target of a number of myths, though. If you are interested in public health, you need to know about the Global Health Program from the Gates Foundation. Here are 10 myths, and 10 facts, providing you with 20 facts and myths about the Gates Foundation:

1. Myth: The Global Health Program is primarily concerned with AIDS.
2. Fact: Even though the Gates Foundation Global Health Program provides funding for HIV/AIDS research grants, it is not the main focus of the program. Indeed, there are several grants, worth millions of dollars a year, for the study of a number of different diseases and health risks, offered through the Gates Foundation Global Health Program.
3. Myth: The Gates Foundation Global Health Program is focused only in Africa, and isn’t really global.
4. Fact: While there are a number of resources devoted to Africa, due the nature of the health issues facing that continent, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Global Health Program truly is global. The HIV/AIDS research funding is split between 16 research teams around the world, and there has been grants awarded in Japan and at Hebrew University. Additionally, the University of Washington received a grant in order to found the Department of Global Health.
5. Myth: Instead of creating real and lasting solutions, the Global Health Program just throws money at problems.
6. Fact: The Gates Foundation Global Health Program offers a number of opportunities for solutions to be found. Not only does the program issue grants for research to find new cures and medicines for health problems, but it also believes in education. Health education programs, designed to help people around the world learn more about better health practices.
7. Myth: Bill Gates released mosquitoes infected with malaria at a TED talk about battling the disease in Africa.
8. Fact: While Bill Gates did let some mosquitoes fly around during his presentation at TED, none of the mosquitoes had malaria. He merely used the mosquitoes as a stunt.
9. Myth: Only cronies of Bill Gates can get grants for health care research through the Global Health Program.
10. Fact: Anyone with a good idea about improving global health and doing research, and a plausible implementation to put their ideas into action, can apply for grants with the Gates Foundation. There are a number of funding areas available in the Global Health Program, and it is possible for anyone to apply. While not every grant will be accepted, it is true that many people, who may not know the Gates family personally, have received funding for global health projects.
11. Myth: The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Global Health Program spends millions of dollars lobbying in Washington for special favors and agendas.
12. Fact: The Gates Foundation has a specific status as a non-profit that does not allow it to directly lobby, due to its tax status. Congressional lobbying activities are prohibited. However, this doesn’t mean that the Global Health Program can’t get out there and encourage positions and the public on global health matters. And it doesn’t meant that Bill Gates, as an individual, can’t lobby. He can use his personal influence as he sees fit.
13. Myth: Warren Buffett arranged to give all his money to the Gates Foundation, including the Global Health Program.
14. Fact: Even though investing legend Warren Buffett has a generous annual gift that goes to the Gates Foundation every year, it does not come close to amounting to his entire fortune. Rather, the arrangement is that a certain number of Berkshire Hathaway shares are given to the foundation each year. Some of that money makes to the Global Health Program, but not all of it.
15. Myth: Bill Gates is the president of the Global Health Program, and oversees its operation.
16. Fact: Actually, even though Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, along with Warren Buffett, are trustees for the Gates Foundation, little of the day to day running of the charity is done by these figures. This includes the Global Health Program. The president of the Global Health Program is actually Dr. Tadataka “Tachi” Yamada. He used to chair R&D at GlaxoSmithKline, and he taught internal medicine at the University of Michigan. He has been knighted, and he has been a president of the American Gastroenterological Association and the Association of American Physicians.
17. Myth: The Global Health Program has a budget as large as the World Health Organization‘s budget.
18. Fact: While this might have been nearly true back when the WHO budget was close to $850 million a year, now this is not the case. The $800 million Global Health Program budget still pales in comparison with the nearly $5 billion the World Health Organization has for a budget. But, still, the Gates foundation budget is quite large, and can accomplish quite a bit.
19. Myth: The Gates Foundation Global Health Program is the only source of funding for the fight against polio in the world.
20. Fact: Many people assume that because polio has been largely eradicated in the U.S., that it does not need funding. Therefore, many are surprised to find that polio eradication efforts continue around the world. Even though the Gates Foundation Global Health Program does fund polio eradication efforts, it is far from the only organization making these efforts. However, the Global Health Program’s contribution is rather large: 17% of polio funding in the world comes from the Gates Foundation Global Health Program.

There are a number of myths about the Gates Foundation Global Health Program, it is important to take any information you learn — about nearly anything — with a grain of salt. While some still criticize the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation for its philanthropic capitalism, including the Global Health Program, there will also always be supporters, glad of the efforts being made to improve global health, and access to health care.

Tagged as: AIDS, Berkshire Hathaway, Bill Gates, Gates Foundation, Global Health Program, Warren Buffett