Bill Gates, world’s second richest man, announced in Abu Dhabi on Thursday his foundation will contribute $1.8 billion to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a third of the total funds needed.
“I am pleased to announce for the foundation that we are committed to fund a third of what is needed for this campaign,” the Microsoft co-founder told the Global Vaccine Summit in Abu Dhabi. “So for the fully funded campaign, that would be $1.8 billion that we are committed to.”

Bill Gates at the Global Vaccine Summit in Abu Dhabi. AFP Photo
“There has been a total of four billion dollars raised here. That gives us 73 percent of” the $5.5 billion needed, he said.
Other participants at the summit also announced their contributions — $457 million from Britain, $250 million from Canada, and $240 million from Norway.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayan announced he will donate $120 million.
Germany, which had already pledged 100 million euros, announced it will donate a similar amount again. Meanwhile, the Islamic Development Bank offered $227 million.
The number of worldwide polio infections plunged to 223 in 2012, compared to 360,000 in 1988 when the United Nations launched a campaign to eliminate the highly contagious and crippling illness.
Only three countries are still considered polio endemic — Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Nigeria, where an Islamist insurgency in the country’s north has taken a hit on immunisation campaigns and at least 10 people were killed in attacks on two vaccination centres in February, saw most of the cases in 2012.
At least 20 people have been killed in such attacks in Pakistan since December.
Gates, listed by Forbes as the world’s second-richest person, had said the global campaign to eliminate polio was currently spending about $900 million a year.
But Medecins Sans Frontiers (MSF) has criticised the high prices of the vaccines.
“High prices for new vaccines could put developing countries in the precarious situation of not being able to afford to fully vaccinate their children in the future,” warned the medical charity.
“Urgent action is needed to address the skyrocketing price to vaccinate a child, which has risen by 2,700 percent over the last decade,” said Dr Manica Balasegaram, executive director of MSF’s Access Campaign.
“The lack of transparency by companies on vaccine manufacturing costs and their focus on profits above ensuring sustainable prices for vaccines for low-income countries are at the root of the problem,” she said.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a major contributor to the GAVI Alliance, which helps make vaccines available to developing countries.
The two-day Global Vaccine Summit was aimed at highlighting the need for continued support for immunisations, as well as discuss a six-year plan to eliminate polio.

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/04/25/bill-gates-commits-1-8billion-to-polio-eradication/

Is that not the Net worth of Oprah and Adenuga? This bill gates just knows how to ridicule other billionaires.

But that's hell of a lot for a disease that's being phased out even in Africa. I think it will be better to put most of the bulk on cancer research or something.

Afam4eva: Is that not the Net worth of Oprah and Adenuga? This bill gates just knows how to ridicule other billionaires.

lol...d guy 1ce said dat the best way to be rich, is to give

dominique: But that's hell of a lot for a disease that's being phased out even in Africa. I think it will be better to put most of the bulk on cancer research or something.

I think u got it wrong there....Polio is very much in Nigeria especially in the NORTHERN states. And i saw a tweet from Bill gate late last year when he talked about the type of polio virus in Nigeria (unlike other countries)... I don't know why ours is peculiar but i hope it's flushed from our country.

We need lots of education and self awareness. The funds is for a propaganda way beyond your comprehension.

There was only 8 reported cases of Polio in Nigeria in 2010 by the World Health Organization - What is the $2 Billion dollars donated by Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Ted (CNN) for? Their normal work, sponsorship of Civil War, Population Control, or another research that will lead to announcement of a new epidemic in the near future - in Nigeria

Remember Nigerians - There is a plan by the powers that be (U.S) to divide Nigeria in 2015

In the northern part of Nigeria, heat stroke and starvation is killing more people everyday than Polio, due to lack of electricity or basic infrastructure.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xywfcEvj53o

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xywfcEvj53o?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Herball:
We need lots of education and self awareness. The funds is for a propaganda way beyond your comprehension.

There was only 8 reported cases of Polio in Nigeria in 2010 by the World Health Organization - What is the $2 Billion dollars donated by Bill Gates (Microsoft) and Ted (CNN) for? Their normal work, sponsorship of Civil War, Population Control, or another research that will lead to announcement of a new epidemic in the near future - in Nigeria

Remember Nigerians - There is a plan by the powers that be (U.S) to divide Nigeria in 2015

In the northern part of Nigeria, heat stroke and starvation is killing more people everyday than Polio, due to lack of electricity or basic infrastructure.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xywfcEvj53o

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xywfcEvj53o?feature=player_detailpage" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Cut the bull dude. What makes you think Bill Gaates gives a flying f*** about Nigeria's existence?

For a start, the $1.8b donated by Gates is for the GLOBAL response, and not Nigeria alone. The money is part of the funds requested by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (total needed fund is $5.5b, btw), which is a consortium of many countries but spearheaded by WHO, UNICEF, CDC, etc. Are you trying to tell me they're all anticipating Nigeria's downfall? na so dem busybodi reach?

Sure, I'll be the first to admit Gates apparent philanthropic donations to may not be as altruistic as it. He's well know for his population control predisposition and has elicited controversies in the past over statements made in support of it.

but Gates, sponsoring terrorism?? Come on!!!

dominique:
But that's hell of a lot for a disease that's being phased out even in Africa. I think it will be better to put most of the bulk on cancer research or something.

There were about 416 cases as of 2013. If our children are not properly vaccinated, there is a possibility that this figure could rise to well over 100,000 cases in a few years time, and of course the cost by then will be greater than what it is now.

IT might interest you to know a lot of criticism similarly trailed the channelling of resources to HIV/AIDS control in the early 2000, especially with the establishment of GHI's PEPFAR. But we are all witnesses to the monster it has become today. (though thankfully progress is being made towards reducing the prevalence.)

Then of course the current vaccines being used are more expensive than previous.