Over the next five years, a $635 million donation will be made by the Rotary International, the Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation, and the governments of Germany and Great Britain to eradicate the polio virus. Since northern Nigeria and northern India account for more than 80% of the reported virus cases, the money will be used to increase vaccination campaigns in these two regions. The United States is the single biggest donor to the eradication effort contributing $1.4 billion to the total $6.17 billion. In the past two years Gates has donated $355 million to the cause. In addition, he and his wife have also pledged to help with eradicating malaria. Last year, the number of cases world wide was 1,625 which is 99% lower than that in 1988. Some experts, however, say that it is impossible to completely rid the world of polio due to failure to meet deadlines in the past, the virus can be widely spread before authorities realize it is even present at all, and because of the fact that there are three different types of polio. The World Health Organization plans to use the money over the next five years with eradication as a result.
This news article caught my attention because it is particularly close to my heart. My aunt was affected was infected with polio as a child. I am so happy to see that there is such a big effort being made to end this terrible disease. I was very surprised to see just how much the Gates Foundation alone has donated to this cause! I did not know that there were three different types of polio. It made me wonder if their family has been affected by the virus as well. I was surprised to see how much the actual numbers of cases have changed over my life time!! It is pretty extraordinary that it has decreased 99% since 1988! Although, I still think that 1,625 cases is still 1,625 cases too many.
My best friend's mother had Polio when she was a child and it left her right arm utterly useless. I love that people are doing their best to prevent further spreading!
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My best friend's mother had Polio when she was a child and it left her right arm utterly useless. I love that people are doing their best to prevent further spreading!
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