New York City Mayor Bloomberg pledges $100M to global polio eradication initiative

"New York [City] Mayor Michael Bloomberg has pledged $100 million to help the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others to fight polio around the world," the Associated Press reports (2/28). Bloomberg "plans to announce Thursday that he is giving $100 million through the philanthropic arm of his foundation to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative," the Wall Street Journal writes, noting, "The donation from Bloomberg Philanthropies, to be made over six years, gives a big boost to an effort by fellow billionaire philanthropist [Bill] Gates" -- co-chair of the Gates Foundation -- "to raise $5.5 billion for a new GPEI 'polio eradication and endgame strategic plan' to wipe out the virus by 2018" (McKay, 2/28). "GPEI's Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 is spearheaded by WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control," and it "addresses all aspects of ending polio, including stopping transmission, strengthening routine immunization, addressing challenges such as insecurity and access, and preparing the polio infrastructure to reach children with other health services," a Bloomberg Philanthropies press release states (2/28).