Podcast Summary: WHO, UNICEF, Rotary — Polio Fight to the Finish

Rotary Voices Podcast – January 9, 2026
Host: Jerome McDonnell
Guests:

• Dr. Jamal Ahmed, Director of Polio Eradication (WHO) & Chair, GPEI Strategy Committee
• Stephen Lawai, Director of Polio Eradication Program (UNICEF)
• Valerie Wafer, Former Rotary International Director & Rotary International Polio Plus Committee

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the global fight to eradicate polio—one of history’s most ambitious public health campaigns. Against the backdrop of unprecedented cutbacks in governmental funding for international health, leaders from WHO, UNICEF, and Rotary discuss the last-mile challenges, the multilayered value of partnerships, new obstacles (and innovations), and the enduring sense of global mission that guides their work.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Personal Journeys Into the Polio Fight

Timestamps: 02:44–06:37

• Dr. Jamal Ahmed (WHO): Got his start as a district medical officer in rural Kenya, leading vaccination campaigns and polio surveillance. Evolved into global health with a direct understanding of grassroots needs.
  • “I was effectively the tool on the ground that was helping to deliver…[vaccines], through many years of work.” (03:04)
• Stephen Lawai (UNICEF): Emergency work veteran, began polio work in Somalia during the early 2000s—negotiating access amid warlords and unstable environments. Came to see that conflict-prone regions were also where the virus persisted.
  • “Countries where we have these emergencies and conflicts going on, also the conflict where the virus found gaps in the health systems…” (04:27)
• Valerie Wafer (Rotary): Had a transformative experience in India on a National Immunization Day, witnessing the enthusiasm and effectiveness of community engagement.
  • “If India can eradicate this disease, anyone can do it.” (05:44)
  • Shares that Rotary’s fundraising and on-the-ground stories make the mission personal for members worldwide.

2. Progress: At the 99.99% Mark

Timestamps: 06:37–08:26

• The global push has reduced polio cases by over 99.99% since 1988, with wild polio remaining only in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• Two of the three wild polio virus types have been eradicated globally; the final push targets wild polio type 1.
  • “The main challenging zones are… along the common border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. And they have peculiarities: insecurities, inaccessibility, socioeconomic challenges.” – Dr. Jamal Ahmed (07:35)

3. Why Partnerships Matter

Timestamps: 09:50–13:48

• UNICEF’s Role: Vaccine procurement, logistics, and “last mile” delivery—ensuring cold chain integrity, even over 100+ km treks in difficult terrain. Equally vital is community mobilization: convincing parents, countering rumors, and repeated engagement when trust is lacking.
  • “We buy all the vaccines…and bring them to the countries and to the children and to the vaccinators… The second thing we do is… convince people that these vaccines work.” – Stephen Lawai (10:03)
• Rotary’s Role: Continuous grassroots fundraising, advocacy, and personal storytelling. The Gates Foundation matches Rotary’s contributions $2 for $1, but persistent fundraising innovation is required to overcome “fatigue” and final push challenges.
• Advocacy: Rotarians actively lobby politicians and use personal networks to keep polio eradication on government agendas, especially as public budgets tighten.
  • “Nothing is next until we finish the job… which now I’m going to say is 99.99%.” – Valerie Wafer (13:23)
  • Innovative fundraising mechanisms: e.g., Polio Plus Society with recurring donations and member recognition pins.

4. Funding Cuts and Global Health Security

Timestamps: 17:05–18:50

• Widespread public health funding cuts threaten not just polio eradication but also the resurgence of other diseases like measles.
• Partnerships provide resilience, but the risk is a global resurgence if efforts falter.
  • “An infection anywhere, an outbreak is something that’s a threat to everybody… the funding cuts…is a threat to [global] health security in many ways.” – Dr. Jamal Ahmed (17:36)

5. The Power of Leadership and Community Health Workers

Timestamps: 18:50–22:46

• Leadership figures (e.g., Nelson Mandela) galvanized regions and underscored the importance of political and community leaders in eradication efforts.
  • “Leadership definitely matters. Nelson Mandela was a hero. But also…that strong bond that this partnership has had for many years is as critical.” – Dr. Jamal Ahmed (18:58)
• Female health workers are pivotal, especially in conservative regions where only women can reach mothers in households.
  • “In eastern Afghanistan, the workforce is made of 50% women…and the difference in quality of vaccination is enormous.” – Stephen Lawai (21:52)
• Grandmothers and family matriarchs are newly recognized “trusted influencers” in hard-to-reach communities.
  • “We’re using our own grandmothers to also help us convince families because they’re trusted.” – Stephen Lawai (22:34)

6. Legacy of the Polio Program: Broader Health Systems Strengthening

Timestamps: 23:00–23:29

• Polio investments have built surveillance, laboratory capacity, and emergency response systems, benefiting the fight against a range of diseases, including response to COVID-19.

7. Promising Developments & Technical Innovations

Timestamps: 23:29–25:43

• Recent successful containment of outbreaks in southern and eastern Africa (e.g., Madagascar, Mozambique).
• New vaccines rolled out—over a billion doses administered—are helping protect against variant polio virus.
• Enhanced lab networks and data tools for surveillance, e.g., “direct detection” techniques for faster, more accurate tracking.

8. Fighting ‘Infodemics’: Countering Misinformation

Timestamps: 25:43–27:35

• Social media rumors and vaccine misinformation travel globally and quickly—requiring real-time monitoring and intervention.
  • “If someone posts something… in Wisconsin, it might be picked up in Guinea Conakry and create a whole mayhem there.” – Stephen Lawai (19:47)
• Thousands of trained volunteers (including Rotarians) counter rumors, engage in online and in-person dialogue, and promote accurate narratives (“infodemic management”).

9. The New GPEI Action Plan

Timestamps: 27:35–29:26

• WHO and partners have adopted a focused action plan, realigning resources to subnational, persistent transmission hotspots, acknowledging tight budgets, and emphasizing local solutions.
  • “Let’s review the whole program…and think through what it will take to put us back on the road to zero… identify each of those areas, the specific problems, and try to tackle those problems as quickly as we can.” – Dr. Jamal Ahmed (28:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If India can eradicate this disease, anyone can do it.” – Valerie Wafer (05:44)
• “I will actually even think it’s 99.99%. Going back to that first day in Manila.” – Dr. Jamal Ahmed (08:17)
• “We can’t do our individual pieces as one. We need to work together.” – Valerie Wafer (17:00)
• “It is the motivation, the commitment of everybody who works towards this, from…the director at WHO to this community health worker…who’s going to bring the vaccine but also convince the mother to make it happen.” – Stephen Lawai (20:44)
• “Without the women, we can’t do it…The difference in quality of vaccination is enormous.” – Stephen Lawai (21:52)
• “Tell your story, continue to advocate, continue to support…There’s a huge sense of pride that we’re all going to have to know that we were part of this journey and that we made a difference.” – Valerie Wafer (29:32)

Key Takeaways for Listeners

• Global victory is close—with wild polio now isolated to just a few regions. But the “last mile” is the hardest and most crucial, requiring persistence, innovation, and unity.
• Partnerships are everything. No one agency or sector could have achieved these results alone; collaborative action at every level (from local health workers to global donors) is indispensable.
• Every Rotarian—and every supporter—matters. Fundraising, advocacy, and personal stories fuel the campaign and keep its urgency alive.
• Investment in polio eradication leaves a legacy for broader healthcare capability, epidemic prevention, and community resilience.
• Misinformation is a real threat, but ongoing outreach—especially by trusted community health workers and influencers—can defeat skepticism and fear.
• Leadership and innovation—both technical (like new vaccines and lab methods) and human (community engagement strategies)—will carry the campaign to the finish line.
• The end is in sight: With determination and support, polio can become the second disease fully eradicated from Earth.

For more on participating or supporting Rotary’s efforts, visit rotary.org.