Philanthropist and Rotary supporter, Bill Gates, is reaching out to governments at the World Economics Forumin Davos.
So far, Bill Gates has secured the support of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for a mass immunisation programme for Afghan and Pakistani children.
He is now working out an agreement with UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, for a donation aimed at polio eradication projects. This additional funding, the amount of which is yet to be announced, will further complement fundraising by Rotary International to End Polio Now.
Rotary International worldwide has been working towards this goal since 1985. Our members raise funds, administer vaccines at numerous national immunisation days across affected areas and educate the public about this cruel and debilitating disease. Thanks to this effort and those of our partners, including WHO, Unicef, and CDC , the number of countries classed as endemic has fallen from 125 to just four: Nigeria, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. 350,000 new cases per year used to be reported, last year there were just under 1,000. As one of the largest humanitarian organisations in the world, the welfare of people is a top priority and the work will not stop until this virus has been defeated.
Rotary’s $200 Million Dollar Challenge is a matching fundraiser whereby Rotary will raise $200m and this will be matched with $355m from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation . This means that $555m is being pledged towards polio eradication. So far, Rotary has raised $150m. The remaining $50m is needed by June next year. Rotary is delighted to be working alongside Bill and Melinda Gates in partnership with other organisations.
Polio has been 99-percent eradicated from the world. That final one percent needs the support of everyone in the final push to end polio now.
