Four years ago, I visited India and saw again what polio does to children. I was in a slum in East Delhi, when I met a 9-month-old girl named Hashmin -- paralyzed by polio -- cradled in her mother's arms. She will never be able to do many of the normal things kids do because she has polio. Watching her was the strongest of reminders of the imperative of ending this terrible scourge once and for all.
The following year, in 2009, India had more polio cases than any other country in the world. But much has changed since then, and this Friday will mark a full year since the last case of wild poliovirus was detected in India. This is a huge milestone in the history of global health.
With a huge and growing population, hard-to-reach migrant communities, and sanitation and health conditions that limit the effectiveness of polio vaccines, this remarkable achievement in India marks clear progress in the fight against polio.
India really stepped up to the challenge on polio. The government of India funded its own eradication program. Twice a year, 2 million volunteers prepare 800,000 vaccination booths around the country -- at schools, hospitals, and community centers. They immunize more than 172 million children one by one. Working with partners like Rotary International, WHO, and UNICEF, they have built an impressive infrastructure for delivering health services to some of the most underprivileged children in the world.
India's story is proof that major health problems can be solved in the toughest places in the world. But the fight against polio is not over and we are at a critical moment in time.
In 2011, there were still a handful of countries with polio outbreaks. We must sustain funding to ensure a comprehensive immunization effort in India and other countries -- until there are no more cases. If we don't, the virus can spread back into countries where it has been eliminated, as it did last year in Russia and China.
Eradicating polio is a top personal priority and of the greatest importance at the foundation. Last year, I visited India again to see how the country was able to make such phenomenal progress. I also visited Nigeria and Chad to understand the challenges that lie ahead. I'm optimistic that we can vanquish polio forever if other countries choose to learn from India's success. Together, we can accomplish something amazing.
Bill Gates is the co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He regularly posts his thoughts about the Foundation's work and other projects on his personal website, The Gates Notes.
Follow Bill Gates on Twitter: www.twitter.com/BillGates
David Bull: Polio: As India Stands on the Brink
BBC News - India 'close to wiping out polio'
UNICEF India - Health - Polio Eradication
India polio-free? No case since Jan 13 - Times Of India
Immunisation push propels India towards victory in war against polio ...
makes me ill.
I'm sure the motivations behind this are well intended but we have to reassess when we see so much VAPP.
thanks for directing our attention past the BS and rhetoric of our own daily grinds
...while spending time and money trying to make a difference.
Not a whole lot of folks "get it".
As we see all too often, our nation is chock full of greedy short-sighted fools who can't get their small attention spans around the squaller of third world living conditions. Nor do we recognize the needless suffering of others that we will never have to endure.
The fact is - it is needless. And as decent human beings we should have NONE of it.
Although I'm not a big fan of the 1%
I am a fan of folks trying to make a difference.
Thanks.
His two latest major investments; GMO foods and nuclear energy (mini nukes) are human health and enviornmental disasters.
Do you have a passport?
Do you believe that a child in india is different from a child in europe? or america? or afganistan?
Meanwhile half the households in his own country live in poverty. Yes, I have a problem with it and so should you.
On the other hand, Billy did not make his money here, 60+% of his money comes from outside of North and south america, he sells his software everywhere in the world. SO No, I DONOT share your X#enophonic views. I dont have to and i would be embarassed to meet you in person and call you an american.
half of the Households in his own country dont live in poverty, Bill has nothing to do with it, the software market in the US is less than 5% I am not sure how much of that is of Microsoft. If he has a responsibility to give back to the places where he makes money from, he needs to do a LOT more in places outside North america. because thats where he makes his money.
You're a smart guy. Do us all a favor and put that big brain to use convincing people to use birth control!
(Like this will really get posted...)