WASHINGTON - THE Gates Foundation, Rotary International, Germany and Great Britain announced Wednesday they have committed more than US$630 million (S$924 million) for the fight against polio.

'I am urging everyone to redouble their commitment to see eradication through to the end,' Bill Gates told reporters in a conference call.

'Children and other ones will benefit when we will succeed on this but every delay, of course, increases the cost maintaining these intense campaigns,' he said.

The donors urged others to pledge more funds and support a push to eradicate the disease, which still afflicts children in parts of Africa and Asia.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation said it was awarding US$255 million challenge grant to Rotary, which the group would match with US$100 million to be raised by its members over the next three years, the two groups said in a joint statement.

Britain is giving US$150 million dollars, and Germany is giving US$130 million, contributions that will go over the next five years to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).

'Complete elimination of the polio virus is difficult and will continue to be difficult for a number of years,' said Gates Foundation co-chair Bill Gates, as he praised the 'phenomenal commitment' already made by Rotarians, health professionals and others in helping stamp out polio.

'We are on the brink of eradicating one of the most feared diseases in the world' with help from the Gates Foundation, said Rotary Foundation Chair Jonathan Majiyagbe.

The shared commitment from the Rotary and the Gates Foundation 'should encourage governments and non-governmental organizations to ensure that resources and the will of the world are available to end polio once and for all.'

The virus responsible for polio has been eliminated around the world except for Afghanistan, India, Nigeria and Pakistan. -- AFP