The Microsoft mogul is behind a $630-million push to force polio into permanent retreat. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is donating $255 million to help eradicate polio.

Rotary International, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the British and German governments on Wednesday committed to fight polio, which still paralyses children in parts of Africa and Asia and threatens children everywhere.

Gates believes that polio may soon go the way of smallpox and vanish off the face of the earth.

There is no alternative; we don't let children die because it's fatiguing to save them. Our commitment as a foundation is to work with you and your partners until no children die from polio, Gates said in a statement.

Contributions received from Canada, Russia, the United States and other donors, the shortfall for 2009-2010 is $ 340 million was also expected to be a great help when combine with the $630-million push to fight polio.

From 1998 to 2008, coordinated international efforts have helped reduce the incidence of polio by 99 percent. The disease is still seen though in Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and in other places, imported cases from these countries threaten other developing nations but with this new funding, the hope is to step up immunizations and rid of it for good.

Microsoft Medicine