Polio Eradication: A Historic Opportunity for Global Health
Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work. Devin: Carol, what is your superpower? Carol: I think my superpower is I believe in hard work and persistence, and that's what helps drive forward the progress in polio eradication. Polio eradication is one of the most remarkable global health initiatives of our time. Today is World Polio Day, a day to focus our attention on history being made. As I discussed with Carol Pandak, Director of PolioPlus at Rotary International, in today’s episode, the end of polio is not just a dream—it’s a real possibility. Carol highlighted that Rotary’s commitment to this effort dates back to 1979 when the organization first launched a campaign in the Philippines, making a promise to the children of the world. Rotary leads the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a collaboration that includes UNICEF, the US CDC, the World Health Organization, the Gates Foundation and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. This isn’t just about numbers. As Carol emphasized, "We made a promise to the children of the world, and as Rotary members and a community, we live up to those commitments. We are in it until every child is protected from polio." Later, she added, “Making history is hard!” The progress is staggering. In 1988, when the Global Polio Eradication Initiative began, there were 350,000 polio cases annually, paralyzing children worldwide. Today, that number has dropped to just 36 cases, restricted to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Carol noted, “The fact that India achieved the goal is a proof point that we can indeed eradicate polio in some of the most difficult places.” What makes polio different from other diseases is its eradication potential. "It is possible to stop the transmission of polio through vaccination," Carol explained. The novel oral polio vaccine (NOPV2) has already made a significant impact, reducing vaccine-derived polio cases worldwide. The possibility of eradicating polio and protecting future generations from paralysis is within reach. This effort represents a historic opportunity, and Rotary’s leadership in the fight against polio is a powerful testament to what can be achieved through global collaboration. To learn more or support the effort, visit endpolio.org. tl;dr: * In today’s episode, Carol Pandak emphasized the critical role of persistence and hard work in driving the progress of polio eradication, which Rotary International has been committed to since 1979. * Carol shared that the eradication of polio is achievable, much like smallpox, through vaccination efforts that stop the transmission of the virus among children, particularly under the age of five. * Despite significant progress, with only 36 cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2024, Carol stressed that continued effort is necessary to eliminate the wild poliovirus. * A new oral polio vaccine introduced in 2021 has significantly reduced vaccine-derived polio cases, demonstrating the power of innovation and global partnerships, including the Gates Foundation’s contributions. * Carol highlighted a remarkable success in brokering a ceasefire in Gaza to immunize 560,000 children, showcasing the extraordinary global collaboration required to continue these efforts, even in conflict zones. How to Develop Persistence and Hard Work As a Superpower Carol defines her superpower as a belief in hard work and persistence. In her role leading Rotary’s participation in the global effort to eradicate polio, Carol emphasizes that such long-term, ambitious goals can only be achieved by staying committed, even when the path becomes difficult. This perseverance has been critical in pushing forward the progress toward a polio-free world, showing that unwavering dedication can lead to his
