Australia pledges $50m for polio eradication

”Few ideas are more powerful than the eradication of disease.”

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates joined in the announcement via videolink and said his foundation – the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – would pledge a further $US40million ($A37.3million) to the initiative. Mr Gates praised the Australian Government for putting the polio issue on the CHOGM agenda.

The number of polio cases has been slashed by 99per cent since the eradication initiative was first launched in 1988.

The remaining 1 per cent of cases are proving the most difficult to eradicate.

In responding to yesterday’s commitment, Global Poverty Project chief executive Hugh Evans urged other world leaders to follow Australia’s example.

”We congratulate the Prime Minister and the Government for using the opportunity provided by CHOGM to show leadership on this issue,” he said.

”This proves they are willing to walk the talk.”

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