Today marks the a year since the last case of new polio infection in India -- a major step toward eliminating the virus there. India is one of only four countries (the others are Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria, known by the acronym PAIN) where polio is said to be endemic, that is, spreading there, not coming from one of those four places.
The effort is the result of decades of work by Rotary International, along with The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the WHO and UNICEF. But it probably wouldn't have gotten this far without the support and advocacy of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Bill Gates has made eliminating polio a centerpiece of his efforts to use his Microsoft fortune to change the world. (See: With Vaccines, Bill Gates Changes The World Again)
The Gates Foundation released this statement from Bill this morning:
This is a major milestone in the global fight against polio. Children in India are now protected against this debilitating, but preventable disease, bringing us one step closer to saving and improving the lives of all children.
Polio can be stopped when countries combine the right elements – political will, quality immunization campaigns, and an entire nation’s determination. We must build on this historic moment and ensure that India’s polio program continues to move full-steam ahead until eradication is achieved.
By continuing to raise the funds needed to run the global campaign, world leaders can ultimately save billions of dollars and help to ensure that no child ever suffers from this crippling disease again.
I congratulate the Government of India, Prime Minister Singh, Union Health Minister Azad, the Chief Ministers – especially of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal – and the millions of individuals who have contributed to this success. India’s story illustrates the possibility of tremendous progress even in the face of difficult economic times, a challenging environment and competing development needs. Partnerships and innovation are key to saving lives and creating economic opportunity for people living in poverty throughout the world.
