Chasing polio with Jean-Marc Giboux

Summary

Rotary Voices Podcast Summary: "Chasing Polio with Jean-Marc Giboux"

Introduction In the September 26, 2024 episode of the Rotary Voices podcast, hosted by Rotary Magazine and produced by Andy Choi, senior staff writer Diana Schoberg engages in an insightful conversation with renowned Chicago-based photojournalist Jean-Marc Chabot. The episode delves into Jean-Marc's 18-year journey documenting polio eradication efforts across 17 countries, showcasing his dedication, challenges, and the profound impact of his work.

Early Life and Beginnings in Photography Jean-Marc Chabot's passion for photography ignited during his junior high school years near Paris, France. Reflecting on his early inspirations, Jean-Marc shares:

"I had an art teacher who gave us a course of black and white photography and I got into a dark room and I just fell in love with it. It changed my life." (02:05)

This nascent interest led him to pursue photography passionately, overcoming various hurdles by working multiple jobs, acquiring equipment, and selling his photographs during high school.

Transition to Professional Photography and Arrival in Chicago Originally from France, Jean-Marc sought to expand his horizons beyond his homeland. His journey led him to Los Angeles, California, where he began covering news, social issues, and cultural trends for both US and European publications. His persistence paid off when his coverage was recognized by major news agencies like Gamma and Reuters, enabling him to establish a foothold in the competitive world of photojournalism.

Embarking on the Polio Documentation Journey In 1997, Jean-Marc discovered a compelling story in the Chicago Tribune about Rotary International's ambitious project to eradicate polio by the year 2000. Recognizing the magnitude of this public health initiative, he reached out to Rotary and secured a grant to document the campaign. This collaboration led to the creation of "Chasing Polio," a comprehensive photographic chronicle of the global fight against polio.

Jean-Marc elaborates on how he initiated this project:

"As a freelance photographer, I was looking for a great story for the millennium. So after reading the article, there was one link that I noticed that was in Chicago, Evanston. It was Rotary." (04:07)

His work quickly gained prominence, culminating in a feature in Life magazine and subsequent collaborations with the World Health Organization.

Challenges Faced: War Zones and Personal Risks Jean-Marc's quest to document polio eradication was fraught with dangers, particularly in conflict zones. One of his most harrowing experiences occurred in Sierra Leone during a bloody coup:

"We were looking for refugees, we could hear the big guns going off in the jungles... one morning at 3:00 in the morning, I got a knock on my door and he said, pack up, we gotta leave." (06:15)

The imminent threat from rebels forced an abrupt evacuation, leaving Jean-Marc distressed over the fate of his colleagues. This incident underscores the perils faced by journalists in volatile regions.

Another notable challenge was his encounter in Kano, Nigeria—a central hub for polio transmission in Africa. Jean-Marc recounts being mistakenly detained by authorities while photographing in a Sharia-governed marketplace:

"I don't know who they are. They are in civilian clothes... I saw a policeman in uniform and I freed myself." (10:44)

His ability to navigate such tense situations was often aided by Rotary members on the ground, highlighting the critical support role played by local contacts.

Impact and Misuse of His Photographs Jean-Marc's poignant photographs have had significant influence, though not without unintended consequences. A powerful image from Sierra Leone depicting a child affected by polio was repurposed by anti-vaccination groups during the COVID-19 pandemic:

"It was a picture of a child who was really in bad shape... it was hijacked by anti vaccination people who said the comment was, this is what happened when Bill Gates test the COVID vaccine on children in Africa." (07:10)

While disheartened by the misuse of his work, Jean-Marc remains grateful for the opportunity to raise awareness, albeit in ways he never intended.

Significant Photographic Moments Among his extensive portfolio, Jean-Marc highlights a particularly uplifting photograph taken in India. Capturing nurses celebrating India's first year without polio, the image exudes joy and resilience:

"It's just a beautiful picture... I like not to be part of the picture. And it's just a beautiful picture." (17:13)

This photograph encapsulates the triumph of collective efforts in eradicating a debilitating disease.

Building Trust in Sensitive Environments Gaining the trust of communities, especially in politically unstable or post-conflict areas, was pivotal for Jean-Marc. He emphasizes the importance of empathetic engagement:

"Spending time with the people is the first thing. And usually, I spend my whole day with vaccinators." (15:55)

Understanding the daily struggles and aspirations of polio victims and health workers enabled him to portray their stories authentically and respectfully.

Philosophy of a Good Photograph Jean-Marc's approach to photography transcends technical proficiency. He seeks to evoke emotion and convey meaningful messages, striving to capture genuine moments rather than posing subjects:

"I like emotions. I like the pictures to bring some emotion to somebody... it's intense or it's strong and it's conveying something of a message." (18:08)

This philosophy is evident in his ability to capture candid, impactful scenes that resonate with viewers.

Reflections on the Polio Eradication Campaign The scale and dedication involved in the polio eradication campaign deeply impressed Jean-Marc. He likens the operation to an "ant farm," with thousands of volunteers working tirelessly from the grassroots level:

"It's people teachers, nurses, health workers. So everybody's involved and there are hundreds of thousands of people doing it." (20:10)

This collective effort, supported by top-down financing, showcases the remarkable synergy required to combat a global health challenge.

Looking Ahead: Future Aspirations While Jean-Marc cherishes his extensive work on polio eradication, he expresses a desire to explore new stories:

"I have a folder full of stories to cover... something that doesn't last 18 years would be good, but I'll do that until I can press a shutter." (21:00)

His commitment to highlighting humanitarian issues ensures that his passion for impactful photojournalism remains unwavering.

Conclusion Jean-Marc Chabot's compelling narratives and evocative imagery offer an intimate glimpse into the relentless fight against polio. His collaboration with Rotary International not only amplified the visibility of this crucial initiative but also underscored the profound human stories behind public health campaigns. Through Rotary Voices, listeners gain an appreciation for the dedication and courage required to document such transformative endeavors.

Further Resources To explore Jean-Marc Chabot's portfolio, visit www.gibot.com. For more on his polio coverage, refer to the October 2024 issue of Rotary Magazine. Support Rotary's polio eradication efforts at npolio.org.

Transcript

[Andy Choi]

This episode of the Rotary Voices Podcast.

[Diana Schoberg]

Is brought to you by Archaeological Paths Explore Egypt with renowned archaeologists. Visit www.archaeologicalpaths.com for more information.

[Andy Choi]

From Rotary Magazine. This is the Rotary Voices Podcast. I'm Andy choi. In early 2024, Rotary International sponsored an exhibit at the Chicago center for Photojournalism. The exhibit was titled Chasing Polio Shot by Jean. Jean Marc is a Chicago based photojournalist who spent 18 years traveling across 17 countries to document the effects of polio and the wide ranging fight to eradicate it. Chasing Polio captures this journey documenting the unprecedented public health initiative through Jean Marc's lens. Jean Marc was born and raised near Paris, France before he moved to Los Angeles, California in the United States to cover news, social issues and cultural trends for US And European publications. Nearing the turn of the century, Jean Marc wanted to cover something big. He became interested in the work to end polio and reached out to Rotary International hoping to document it. By the end of 1997, his polio coverage had been picked up by Life magazine. Soon enough, he was swept away by the vulnerable children and polio survivors he had met, the remote areas he'd visited, and the tireless work of volunteers and health workers he'd seen across across polio eradication efforts worldwide. In this episode of the Rotary Voices Podcast, Rotary Magazine senior staff writer Diana Schoberg sits down with Jean Marc Chabot to discuss the obstacles he's faced in capturing his images, the highlights of his journey, and what he looks for in a good picture.

[Diana Schoberg]

Welcome to the Rotary Voices Podcast. Thanks for joining us.

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Thank you.

[Diana Schoberg]

So can you tell us how did you get started in photography?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

It's a long time ago, but it started in junior high school. I had an art teacher who gave us a course of black and white photography and I got into a dark room and I just fell in love with it. It changed my life. There was always photography in my life and started working in the basement with the darkroom and then little by little I figured out that's what I wanted to do. I struggled and had a lot of other jobs to get there, but I got new cameras, bought cameras, bought equipment, started selling pictures in high school and here I am.

[Diana Schoberg]

It sounds like you're living like every high school kid's dream.

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Yes, it's been pretty amazing. It took quite a way to get there, but probably making it more enjoyable now.

[Diana Schoberg]

You grew up in France. How did you end up in Chicago?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

I knew what I didn't want to end up doing in France and I started working, making money Traveling the world, taking pictures, trying to come back and trying to sell them. I did that for a few years, and it didn't really work that great. And then I did a trip to the US And I went to California in San Francisco, and I started doing the same thing. So I started working more in California, then moved to Los Angeles, where it was more happening at the time. I would work for a few months, save money and go on a trip. I went to China once. I loved it. I went back to China, and when I entered China, they were opening Tibet. And I was one of the first people going into Tibet without an escort. So I didn't sell the story. But this story opened the door for a major news photo agency, which was at the time Gamma from Paris and Gama Liaison in New York. So this opened the door for me to sell my work. And then I started producing work in pretty much in California aimed at the European market.

[Diana Schoberg]

You photographed polio eradication efforts for 18 years. How did you get your start?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

In 97, I read a story in the Tribune, and it was talking about the project of eradicating polio by the year 2000. As a freelance photographer, I was looking for a great story for the millennium. So after reading the article, there was one link that I noticed that was in Chicago, Evanston. It was Rotary. So I called Rotary and we worked out a deal where Rotary, they gave me a grant to cover the story for a year. I picked five places in the world which represented the challenges of polio eradication. I went to Turkey, I went to CDC in Atlanta. I went to India, Nepal, Ethiopia, and at the end of the year, it was picked up by Life magazine. After doing the work for one year with Rotary and getting published in Life magazine, I get a call from the World Health Organization. Oh, nice. And they say to me, hey, do you want to go to Sierra Leone? I said, of course I want to go to Sierra Leone. Then I put the phone down and I'm looking. There was no Google. So I look on the encyclopedia, where is Sierra Leone? And then I found out, yeah, Sierra Leone is this country in West Africa, and it's in the middle of civil war. As we are doing polio vaccination, trying to catch refugees, we are coming into Freetown. Freetown is the main city in Sierra Leone, and it was surrounded by an army of rebels who are trying to take over the country. And as we are looking for refugees, we could hear the big guns going off in the jungles as they were trying to delay the arrival of the rebel Army. And so we did this for a few days and then one morning at 3:00 in the morning, I got a knock on my door and he said, pack up, we gotta leave. So we got evacuated and a week or two later, the rebels took over free time. And it was one of the bloodiest coup in West Africa. And they have a lot of bloody coups. But I always felt bad because all the people I worked with, I never know what happened to them. There were nurses, there were doctors, and I never heard anything from them anymore. And I say this doesn't hit you when it's happening. It hits you when you're going home. And I'm sure it's the same for soldiers or people who've been witnessing intense stuff. But it hits you later when you have time to process it. When this is happening, you don't really have time to process it. You pack up, you get into the taxi, we get into the bush. There is a little bush taxi plane waiting for us and there's 10 of us and we fly to the Ivory coast, you know, the country next door. And then you end up in Ivory coast and you get access to showers and all these things are starting to hit you. You know, I'm not gonna see these people again. Where are they? You know, what's gonna happen to them.

[Diana Schoberg]

You had one of your photos used in anti vaccination campaigns. Can you tell us about that?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Yeah, that was very interesting. It was during the pandemic actually in 2020. I started getting these calls and emails. There was AP, Reuter, Bloomberg and they will send me the same picture. And it was a picture from Sierra Leone and it was a picture of a child who was really in bad shape. I mean, he was living on all four, he had shoes on his hands. In the background there was another group of kids who were on crutches with limbs that were affected. It was pretty strong pictures. I didn't put it in the exhibit because it's a little too intense. But then it was circulating and it was hijacked by anti vaccination people who hijacked the picture and said the comment was, this is what happened when Bill Gates test the COVID vaccine on children in Africa. That's what they were using it for, to scare people. Also, it was always against Bill Gates. I don't know why, but it was complete hijacking of the picture, of the message. So every time I had to say yes, I took that picture. It was in 1998 and this child was never vaccinated. And this child is a victim of polio and I never heard from them again. I think maybe they were able to fight it, but it's already been used. The impact of it is already done.

[Diana Schoberg]

How does it feel to have your work used like that?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Well, it doesn't make me very happy, you know, it's just the opposite of what I want to portray. But I'm glad they contacted me.

[Diana Schoberg]

One of the images from that shoot was a beautiful photo of some school children sitting in their uniforms. Could you describe that photo a bit for us?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Yes, it was called the Cheshire Home for Kept Children. And actually it's the same place where I took the picture that was hijacked by the anti vax community. Same group of kids, just a few different ones. But they had this place which was a shelter for these kids. They were able to get an education but there was no reconstructive surgery. They were just managing. You can stop the progress of the virus, of the disease, but you cannot repair what has been damaged. So half of them were paralyzed and they were brilliant little kids. They were playing soccer, but they were playing soccer on the ground on all four. Their spirit was always great.

[Andy Choi]

When we return, Jean Marc shares his experience working with volunteers and health workers, photographing milestone moments in the polio eradication efforts and what he looks for in a good photo. Stay with us.

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[Diana Schoberg]

You'Ve had some harrowing experiences during your coverage. Can you tell us about a few of those?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

So one of them was in Nigeria. Northern Nigeria is the hotbed and the center for polio transmission in Africa. Most of the viruses in Africa could be traced back to northern Nigeria. So that was one of the big story I think for the polio eradication to go to Kano in northern Nigeria. So I arrived in Kano and same thing, you live and learn. Kano. Actually, they have Sharia law, which means there is a lot of restriction in public life. One of them is taking pictures. The first morning, I just go out with my camera on the shoulder and I start walking around. And in this marketplace, I just see there is people selling tomatoes. And right next to a sewage little river next to them. That could be interesting. Talking about polio. As I'm walking into the market, I hear somebody calling you, you, you. I'm not. You know, I know the story about kidnappings in Nigeria. So I'm just moving a little faster into the crowd until somebody grabs me. And I turn around and there's these big guys telling me, you gotta come with us. First of all, I don't know who they are. They are in civilian clothes. So I'm resisting. I said, no, I'm not coming with you. And I'm making a big scene. I want people to see me, you know, I don't want them to just take me away. And then I see a policeman in uniforms. So I free myself and I run to the policeman and I asked him, who are these people? Are they legit? And he said, yes, they are immigration or they are police. So I get in the car with them and they take me to their headquarters where they make me wait for hours. They take my passport. And luckily, I had a contact, a Rotarian, in Kano. So I was able to call him. And he came by. And finally they kept my passport and I went back to my hotel. Told me, stay in the hotel. You are not allowed to take pictures. Come back tomorrow and we'll deal with your passport. And I was also on assignment with Rotary and the World Health Organization. I had a paper. I had a journalist visa. Everything was legit on my side. So I go back the next day and same thing. We have to wait for hours. And we're waiting to see the big chief. I don't know which department, but it's law enforcement. And we get in there, and right away he's starting to lecture me about, you are not allowed to take pictures. And then he kicks me out of the meeting. And things happen between him and the Rotarians. And I believe there was something being paid to get my passport back. They never told me. And then after that, I was able to work in the city without any problems.

[Diana Schoberg]

What has been your experience working with Rotary members?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Some places they were my contacts, especially places like India or Nepal, even Bangladesh. Kano. I'm glad there was one. Otherwise I may be still in Jail there.

[Diana Schoberg]

Were there any interesting resulting photos from that trip?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Yeah, it was great. It was very interesting. I was able to go with a group of vaccinator in the old city and going into chronic schools and all these places, you just see something that I would not see as a tourist otherwise, you know. And it was. They did great.

[Diana Schoberg]

Vaccinators give the polio vaccine in really difficult to reach places. Can you tell us about some of the journeys you've had to take to follow these teams?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Getting there was sometimes the most challenging. Part of my strategy about covering polio vaccination is that taking a picture of a polio vaccination, it's. It's okay once. But if I can associate the polio vaccination drive with what's happening in the world at the same time, then it puts it in perspective and people understand that this is happening while everything else is happening. In 2004, there was a Darfur crisis and there were a few hundred thousand refugees in Chad on the border with Sudan. They've been chased by the militias. And I decided to go and see the polio vaccination in this place. So this just getting there was very difficult. I had to go to Jamila in Chad, clear the papers with the government to get there. Then I had a contact with Doctors Without Borders. They were the one handling health care on the border. So with them I took a flight there. Then I took a drive for a few hours, and then I stayed in the camp. I would just follow them on their daily routine to go do their vaccination. And I did that for a few days. And that was always interesting because you get into people's private space and you just really see what's happening. I have to say that the polio program allowed me to get into those places.

[Diana Schoberg]

How did you gain the trust of people in these sorts of sensitive situations, whether politically sensitive or because people had been disabled by polio? What kind of strategy did you use?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Spending time with the people is the first thing. And usually it's like spending time with vaccinators, and I would spend my whole day with them. But I have to say that the reception we had, I said 99% of the time was good. People wanted the vaccination. When you live in a country where there is polio, you see polio victims every day, you know, and okay, I'm a little older, but when I was a kid, there was always a polio victim in the class. There was a kid was walking with crutches. So I understood what polio meant. But when you're in India, you see polio victims begging every street corner because there is just no solution for them to make a living. They are victimized by the disease. So when you go into a village and people see how difficult it is to have a child who gets polio, then they understand, they want the vaccination. They have many, many worries in their life to make a living, to feed the family, it is one less worry.

[Diana Schoberg]

You've had the opportunity to photograph some milestone moments in the polio eradication campaign as well. You have a photo in particular of some nurses in India after that milestone. Can you describe that photo and tell us a little bit more about it?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Yeah, actually that was one of the lighter and easier picture I took. There was this big gathering of nurses and they were celebrating the first year of a polio free India. That was my last assignment with Rotary and I was following the polio ambassador who was this Brazilian model, Isabelle Fontana. So she was giving a speech to those nurses and it was obvious that pictures was beautiful. The lines, the visuals, the composition was perfect. There must be about 50 or something nurses all wearing the same outfit. It's white and it's black. Only one of them is looking at me. Something I like to. I like not to be part of the picture. And it's just a beautiful picture.

[Diana Schoberg]

What do you look for in a good photo?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Well, there is everything. There is composition. Of course there is a light and everything. But as far as lighting, I have to say I don't always choose the situation. I wish it was always on a beautiful sunset, but it's not happening. But I like emotions. I like the pictures to bring some emotion to somebody. You can say, oh, this picture is pretty. That's it. It's a good picture and it's intense or it's strong and it's conveying something of a message. I like that. That's what I'm looking for. And it's not easy. There's many pictures where they are looking at me. I just don't use them because I want to capture something that's happening. Like I'm a fly on the wall. I remember going into tents in the refugee camp in Pakistan and right away people are looking at me because who is that guy? You know, we never seen somebody like him around us. And then the thing is happening, the polio vaccine is coming out and then you're dropping the drop and then they're not looking at me anymore. They are looking at the action. And that's when I'm taking the picture.

[Diana Schoberg]

Which photo are you most proud of?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Oh, that's a tough question. There is a few I have to say as a photographer I can associate how difficult it was to get the picture, making it more precious to me. An editor would probably not see the same thing. Afghanistan was intense for me, getting into Afghanistan just after the fall of the Taliban. These pictures are important to me because they open something for me. I've never been to Afghanistan and I was not in that situation before, which led to me being more in those situations. Later on I got more familiar with those situation of war. But pretty much I understood that I care about the humanitarian issues in the world and that pretty much drove my work with polio or with other subjects.

[Diana Schoberg]

What impressed you most about covering the polio campaign?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

It's like an ant farm as we're speaking, there is thousands of people going door to door. You know it's happening since 1988 when they started it, but you could say that anytime almost during the year. I know at the beginning of the year it's going to be the national Immunization days in India. I know people are going door to door to do it. I know it's happening in Ethiopia. It's happening in all these places. That's pretty amazing because sure there is financing of the campaign from the top down, but the campaign is down from the bottom up. It's people teachers, nurses, health workers. So everybody's involved and there are hundreds of thousands of people doing it.

[Diana Schoberg]

Thinking about the future, what uncovered story do you wish you could hop on a plane and do?

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Right now I'm looking for one. I have a folder full of stories to cover. It's just a matter of which one is coming first. I think maybe something that doesn't last 18 years would be good, but I'll do that until I can press a shutter.

[Diana Schoberg]

Jean Marc, thanks for coming on the Rotary Voices podcast today.

[Jean Marc Chabot]

Thanks for having me.

[Diana Schoberg]

Jean Marc Jabot is a Chicago based photojournalist who spent 18 years covering polio and polio eradication efforts across 17 countries. Visit www.gibot.com to explore his portfolio. To learn more about Jean Marc's polio coverage, check out his story in the October 2024 issue of Rotary Magazine. If you'd like to support Rotary's efforts in eradicating polio, visit npolio.org.

[Andy Choi]

This episode of the Rotary Voices Podcast was produced by JP Swenson and edited by Wen Huang, Rotary Magazine senior staff writer. Dian hosted the interview. Production by Yoo Sue Kim I'm Andy Choi if you enjoyed the show, please rate us five stars on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and share it with your friends. The Rotary Voices podcast is produced by Rotary Magazine, the official monthly publication of Rotary International. Thanks for listening.