Eradicating polio by 2014: Bill Gates, Dangote connection

Since 2003, Kano has been especially hard hit by the transmission of polio virus in Nigeria following the state government’s suspension of immunization programme for 13 months due to apprehensions among some of the residents.In 2011, Nigeria recorded 62 polio cases, including 17 in Kano.Today, the good news is that the resurgence of polio in […]

Since 2003, Kano has been especially hard hit by the transmission of polio virus in Nigeria following the state government’s suspension of immunization programme for 13 months due to apprehensions among some of the residents.
In 2011, Nigeria recorded 62 polio cases, including 17 in Kano.
Today, the good news is that the resurgence of polio in Nigeria has been down by 50 per cent and by 2014, the nation will be seen as a society, free of polio as the world biggest billionaires, Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, President  of Dangote group, Aliko Dangote together with bank chiefs and captain of industry joined forces to fight total eradication of the disease.
The Gates Foundation has a long history of funding polio eradication initiatives in Nigeria. The Foundation has a $25 million-agreement in place with the World Bank to support the purchase of about 100 million doses of oral polio vaccine (OPV) in Nigeria.
So far, the fight against polio has been a successful one; polio cases in Nigeria have dropped by more than 50 per cent in 2013 with only 49 cases reported in the year so far.
Penultimate week ago, on his visit to Nigeria to rally support for the eradication of disease, the Microsoft founder, Bill Gates Bill Gates was optimistic that 2014 could be the last year for polio virus in Nigeria.
“In my interactions, Nigerians are ready to work together and eradicate polio by 2014. We are very happy with government, it is really doing a great work, 2014 could be the last year of polio virus. There are lot of efforts going  on and truly there is a lot of improvements. We are doing a lot and there is a lot we can do with Dangote Foundation and various governments have shown efforts they are making”, he said.
Dangote foundation had last year entered into a four-year alliance with Bill and Melinda foundation to provide funding, equipment and technical support to the Nigerian government to strengthen polio immunization.
Gates, addressing a press briefing in Lagos, recently said the uprising in the north-east region of the country is undermining the fight to eradicate polio in the country, especially in Borno and Yobe states.
He noted that a lot of problems still remained as some states do not pick up the best vaccines while others do not release money as and when due for the implementation of the campaign.
However, he said his Foundation is planning to improve the living standard of Nigerians and develop the economy.
Dangote said Nigerians would remain grateful for what Bill Gate and Melinda Foundation is doing.
“The foundation is investing heavily in all the various sectors not only on Polio and that is the reason why some of us locally need to really partner with the foundation, he cannot do everything in this whole world, this is just not possible, so we have to do our own bit to assist him in what he is doing and also to give him that support.
It is about logistics, funding we will do that to help him succeed. He said his foundation, Dangote Foundation would be increasing its funding next year to mark its 20th year of corporate social responsibility.
“Next year, will be celebrating the 20th year of Dangote foundation. We will be doing a very big endowment in health, education and relieve for natural disasters.
The good news is that polio cases are reducing.
Last year, there was 112 cases of polio but this has dropped to 51. If what is he is doing, we are doing our own side and we push and do massive immunization, by next year, we will be celebrating total eradication of polio.
As a result of this, we need to give him all the support so that he can fulfil his dream and also our dream to make sure that Nigeria is free of polio.
In order to raise more fund in support of Bill Gate’s mission, private sector health alliance was launched in Lagos to fight polio and other health related challenges in the country.
Other founding members of the group are the group managing director of Access bank, Aig Imoukhuede, former managing director of Zenith bank and chairman Visafone Nigeria, Jim Ovia, chief executive officer of Stabic IBTC, Shola Boha,  the former minister of state for health, Ali Pate and other captains of industry.
President of Dangote group, Aliko Dangote said the alliance which would include a lot of Nigerians would support Bill Gate and Melinda Foundation to ensure its dream of total eradication of polio which will be achieved by 2018.
“In term of his own vision, we have set up private sector health alliance which we have already founded today and the founding members are former minister of state for Health, Pate, Jim Ovia, Aig Imoukhuede,  myself and Shola Boha.  
We are going to involve a lot of people. We are equally going to raise money and we will be partnering Bill Gate and Melinda foundation to fund some of the health sector issues especially immunization, polio”, he said.
Speaker of House of Representative said The Speaker of Nigeria’s lower legislative house, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, promised Gates that that the National Assembly would improve funding for polio-eradication initiatives in the 2014 Appropriation Act.
He also commended the two billionaires for their philanthropic activities, particularly in the Nigerian fight against polio.
“Both of you, yourself (Bill Gates) and Dangote have proven that business and compassion are not mutually exclusive. They can be combined for the good of humanity,” Hon Tambuwal said.
“The goal of saving lives is a very realistic goal. Through these efforts I do think that children who do survive will be far healthier and able to take advantage of their education and contribute to the success of Nigeria,” he said.