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KOCHI: “The thrust of our efforts will be on polio eradication this year,” president of Rotary International Kalyan Banerjee has said. At an interactive session organised here on Tuesday, Banerjee said India was one of the only four countries where polio was still prevalent. “The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has agreed to channel $355 million to the Rotary Club for the programme,” he said.Banerjee said the organisation would work along with the government and the World Health Organisation for polio eradication. “Smallpox is the only disease which has been eradicated. According to the WHO, a disease will be declared eradicated if no new cases are reported in three consecutive years,” he said.In India there are 42 cases of polio as of 2010. A new case was reported in 2011 in West Bengal. Banerjee also announced several other programmes undertaken globally. They include low-cost shelter, AIDS prevention programmes in Africa and scholarship programmes. “The Rotary provides more scholarships than those offered by Rodes and Ford Foundation. These scholarships are mainly meant for post-graduate courses. There also peace Scholarships, separate scholarships for journalists etc,” he said.Kalyan Banerjee is the 101st president of Rotary. He is only the third Indian to be the president of Rotary International. The last of the Indian president was elected in 1961. Kalyan Banerjee will head the organisation for one year from June 30, 2011 to June 30, 2012.
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