In remote villages and urban slums, an army of experts and committed volunteers is fighting what could be the final battle in an age-old war. They may soon wipe out the last trace of an enemy that has plagued humanity for thousands of years.

Accompanied by an armed guard, a health worker in Somalia vaccinates a child. Courtesy World Health Organization

This is the war on polio.

The Last Child tells the remarkable story of the global campaign to eradicate polio, the dreaded childhood disease that continues to cripple and kill. From the frontlines in Nigeria, India, Haiti and elsewhere, you'll witness the victories and challenges of trying to eradicate a disease worldwide for only the second time in history.

The campaign has made remarkable progress. Yet, as The Last Child shows, health workers face major obstacles in defeating the virus once-and-for-all. If the campaign loses steam, polio could quickly re-emerge and threaten a whole new generation of children.

Halima Begum (right) and her mother outside their home in Dakha, Bangladesh. ©CARE

Finally, The Last Child captures the human face of a terrifying disease and looks at the larger implications of this massive endeavor. If we can rid the world of polio, the campaign will guide and inspire other public health initiatives. But if we can't conquer the virus, a haunting question remains: What are our chances against more complex health threats like HIV and other emerging diseases?

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