Bill Gates Puts Polio on Notice
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is increasing his foundation’s commitment to eradicating Polio. At last week’s World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Gates pledged $100 million to a global effort that appears close to eliminating the disease. Gates joins Rotary International’s End Polio campaign which has raised over $1 billion from members to fight the crippling disease.
Right now polio is endemic in only four countries–Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Nigeria. With the successful elimination of smallpox as a measuring stick British Prime Minister David Cameron says that polio will be the next disease to be eradicated but “we just need to finish the job.”
The additional Gates Foundation funds are part of a $10 billion, 10-year vaccine initiative aimed at improving health conditions in developing countries.
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