Rotary Voices – "Polio Eradication Is ‘Our Moonshot’"

Release Date: August 20, 2025
Host: Scott Simon
Guests:

• Carol Pandak (Director, Rotary’s PolioPlus Program)
• Mike McGovern (Chair, Rotary International PolioPlus Committee)
• John Hewko (General Secretary and CEO, Rotary International and Rotary Foundation)

Brief Overview

This episode explores Rotary International’s historic and continuing leadership role in the effort to eradicate polio worldwide—a campaign compared to “a moonshot” in its ambition, longevity, and challenge. Host Scott Simon, with engaging interviews, highlights the origins of Rotary’s mission against polio, the complexity of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), progress to date, the daunting “last mile,” and the passion of Rotarians and partners whose perseverance may soon see polio consigned to history.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Origins and Early Days of Rotary’s Polio Campaign

• 1979: The First Step

  • Rotary’s involvement began with a vaccination campaign in the Philippines, led by then-president James Bomar.

  • Memorable anecdote: Bomar recalls immunizing a young girl as her mother tearfully thanked Rotary (00:14–01:42).

    “She said to me, when I got through, with tears in her eyes, she says, thank you, thank you, thank you, Rotary.” — James Bomar (01:35)

• Vision for Global Eradication

  • Inspired by the eradication of smallpox, Rotary leaders (notably Sir Clem Renouf and Dr. John Sever) aimed to make polio eradication the focus of the 3H (Health, Hunger, and Humanity) program.
  • First global push was the PolioPlus program (1985); GPEI launched with WHO, UNICEF, and others in 1988, marking the first major public-private partnership in global health.

The Progress and Current State of the Initiative

• Dramatic Reductions

  • From 350,000 annual cases of wild polio in 125+ countries to fewer than 25 cases worldwide so far in 2025, limited to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

  • “99.9% reduction in cases”—a testament to the campaign’s effectiveness (07:03).

    “That is 20 million people who are walking today who would otherwise have been paralyzed.” — Scott Simon (07:18)

• High Stakes and Lasting Legacy

  • Smallpox remains the only human disease fully eradicated; polio could be the second.
  • Eradication would ensure “no child will ever again have to deal with this disease as long as mankind exists.” — John Hewko (29:30)

Persistent Challenges

• Fragile Environments & Conflict Zones

  • Ongoing wars, weak infrastructure, political instability (especially in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and, recently, Gaza) make access to children difficult (05:16–06:34).

  • Negotiating humanitarian pauses and adapting strategies are necessary for progress.

    “You have to adapt in order to make progress in this very complicated world.” — Carol Pandak (05:58)

• Vaccine Hesitancy & Logistical Barriers

  • Hesitancy and misinformation remain, especially in certain communities (11:11–12:32).

  • Recent setbacks include a surge in cases in 2024 linked to governance changes in Pakistan and access limitations in Afghanistan.

    “It’s not so much they’re against vaccines, but it’s just a target... It’s what makes it challenging and it’s sad when you hear about it.” — Mike McGovern, on risks faced by frontline workers (14:13)

• Funding Uncertainties

  • Several partners, including Gavi and WHO, have reduced their funding, requiring Rotary and the Gates Foundation to continue bridging gaps (14:49–17:09).
  • Rotary Rotarians have contributed over $1.5 billion, matched by the Gates Foundation for a combined $3 billion.

Rotary’s Approach: The Power of Partnerships

• Multi-Sectoral Collaboration
  • GPEI exemplifies the power of “public-private partnership.” Each entity brings unique expertise: advocacy (Rotary), innovation (Gates Foundation), technical oversight (WHO, CDC), vaccine delivery (UNICEF), and more (24:13–25:50).
• Grassroots to Global
  • Rotary empowers local clubs around the world to be both advocates and hands-on vaccinators (26:33–27:37).
    • “Rotary was LinkedIn before anyone had ever heard of LinkedIn... a combination of commerce and cause.” — John Hewko (26:33)
    • 75% of Rotarians are now outside the U.S., underscoring the global reach.

The Final Push: “The Last Mile”

• Highly Targeted Efforts

  • The “last mile” is concentrated in small, high-conflict areas, needing focused strategies and continuous funding (14:49–20:32).

  • Community engagement, flexibility, and even alternative vaccination sites (e.g., from house-to-house to site-to-site in Afghanistan) are current tactics.

    “We think we're already in the last mile... If you can reduce cases from 350,000... down to even 99... you can reach the final places, particularly because the final places are so compact.” — Mike McGovern (20:38)

• Integrated Services

  • Expanding impact by bundling polio drops with vitamin A and other health services to incentivize participation and address broader community needs (28:04–28:49).

The Motivation and Spirit of Rotary

• Unflagging Commitment

  • Despite dwindling government contributions and the evolving public health landscape, Rotary’s financial and volunteer commitment is “unending” — a theme returned to throughout (17:21; 29:30).

• Personal Dedication

  • John Hewko’s story about the “Ride to End Polio” at El Tour de Tucson—raising over $70 million—epitomizes grassroots initiative and the motivational spirit within Rotary (30:29–31:55).

    “If you can break a certain time, I'll double my contribution.” — John Hewko, on cycling fundraisers (31:47)

• A Global Civil Society Model

  • With 46,000 autonomous clubs worldwide, Rotary’s distributed leadership fuels both local impact and global causes.

    “There’s not a politician in the world doesn’t have a Rotarian as a constituent... it gives us this extraordinary global platform to do good.” — John Hewko (32:15)

• Unity in Diversity

  • The annual conventions showcase Rotary as “a mini UN,” breaking down political and national barriers for a united cause (34:17–34:53).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Human Impact of Rotary’s Work

  “20 million people who are walking today who would otherwise have been paralyzed.”
  — Scott Simon (07:18)

• On the Polio Endgame

  “This is our moonshot.”
  — Quoted from Mike McGovern, via Carol Pandak (08:20)

• On Challenges in Afghanistan

  “We want to go house to house to give polio drops… [Taliban] suddenly said we could only give it out at mosque... individuals within country advocated... now we go down the streets, the lanes, the alleys and we’re still getting 90% of the children.”
  — Mike McGovern (18:16–20:32)

• On Motivation

  “If you eradicate polio, no child will ever again have to deal with this disease as long as mankind exists. It’s kind of a cool thought.”
  — John Hewko (29:30)

• On Global Volunteer Spirit

  “It’s like a mini UN that we bring people together from all over the world around the United Cause to make a difference…”
  — John Hewko (34:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Topic | Timestamps | |--------|-------|------------| | Early vaccination stories | Genesis of Rotary's polio fight | 00:14–02:00 | | The shift to global eradication | 3H program & PolioPlus | 02:00–03:36 | | Partnership and evolution | Launch of GPEI, Carol Pandak’s perspective | 03:36–05:16 | | Challenges in the “last mile” | Conflict, hesitancy, adaptation | 05:16–06:34 | | The role of partnerships | Rotary’s leverage and GPEI structure | 12:05–13:32; 24:13–25:50 | | On-the-ground experiences | Stories from Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan | 13:38–14:42 | | Funding struggles and resilience | Declining gov’t funds, Rotary and Gates support | 14:49–17:09 | | Afghan/Pakistani resurgence in cases | Political cycles, operational hurdles | 17:55–20:32 | | Financial and logistical realities | Cost per child, volume of effort | 21:15–22:13 | | John Hewko’s cycling fundraiser | The Tucson bike ride, grassroots advocacy | 30:29–31:55 | | Rotary’s deep volunteer power | Financial value & global footprint | 32:15–33:14 | | Unity at Rotary conventions | “Mini UN”—culture of service | 34:17–34:53 |

Conclusion

This episode masterfully chronicles Rotary’s four-decade campaign to “go the last mile” against polio—a saga of imagination, adaptation, partnership, and persistence. The discussion offers a clear-eyed look at both triumphs and remaining hurdles, but above all, it’s a portrait of relentless hope: for a world where no child suffers from a preventable disease. Rotary leaders urge continued engagement, partnership, and generosity—because, as they repeat, “this is our moonshot.”

Further Information

• Learn more: rotary.org
• Explore the history: History Explorer

For listeners seeking inspiration and understanding of one of the greatest public health mobilizations in history, this episode provides both the “big picture” and a heartfelt look at the everyday heroes of Rotary.