Bill and Melinda Gates are planning to spend $300m to help Tanzania fight malaria and HIV

Tanzania has caught the eye of one of the richest man in the world.

According to Forbes, Microsoft founder, Bill Gates is worth an estimated $89.5 billion excluding his numerous contributions to charities.

Bill Gates foundation plans to spend more than $300 million in Tanzania this year alone on public health and poverty reduction programs.

In an interview with Reuters, the billionaire said aid was now being spent "in a smarter way" in some parts of the world.

"Some countries have made good progress in the reduction of childhood deaths and reduction in poverty, with Tanzania being a good example," said Gates, during a visit to the east African country.

"I see a chance for the eradication of malaria and HIV/AIDS, but that's gonna take a lot of science and a lot of investment."

Like most African countries, Tanzania has a huge burden of HIV/AIDS, in 2015, 1.4 million people were living with HIV in Tanzania which equates to an estimated HIV prevalence of 4.7% according to UNAIDS report, 2016.

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In Tanzania too malaria is also the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in children under 5 years.

However despite the high numbers, the country has done well to control the HIV epidemic over the last decade by scaling-up access to anti-retroviral drugs which has helped Tanzania minimise the impact of the epidemic.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation spend billions of dollars on aid projects worldwide, however in recent years much of it has been in Africa.

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President Magufuli who is known for his hands-on approach to leadership has in recent months gained international acclaim for his radical and sometimes unpopular solutions in turning the fortune of Tanzania around.

His radical approach to dealing with corruption and public theft has especially endeared him with international aid organizations like the bill and Melinda gates foundation.

Gates philanthropy comes in the back of President Donald Trump's plans to make deep cuts to development aid to Africa.