Nelson
Mndela immunizes a child at a Kick Polio Out of Africa event in
1996
In 1996, routine polio immunizations in Nigeria and other African
countries were anything but routine. Competing health priorities
and lack of funding hampered many governments from putting polio
eradication high on their agenda. The drive for a polio-free Africa
needed a playmaker.
Enter Nelson Mandela. Herb Brown, Rotary's
president in 1995-96, recalls seeking the South African leader's
support. "President Mandela was so gracious and listened as
we described the problem," Brown says. "I told him only
he had the influence to persuade the countries to resume immunization."
Mandela agreed to help. "I'm well aware
of Rotary and all the work you've done, and all the work you did
while I was in jail," he told Brown. At a press conference,
with Brown at his side, Mandela asked all the heads of state in
Africa to open their doors to polio National Immunization Days.
Mandela helped launch the Kick Polio Out of
Africa campaign later that year with 1996-97 Rotary President Luis
Giay and Rotary Foundation Chair Rajendra Saboo. Almost immediately,
Africa's polio eradication effort was back on track. Using soccer
matches and celebrity endorsements, the campaign raised public awareness
of polio and helped spur more than 30 African countries to hold
their first National Immunization Days.
In recognition of his vital work, Rotary presented
the Rotary Award for World Understanding to Mandela in 1997, then
Rotary's highest honor. "We chose President Mandela because
of his significant contributions to world peace, human rights, and
freedom," said Giay, adding that Rotary members especially
appreciated "his strong support of the eradication of polio
throughout Africa."
Mandela called the award "a tribute to
the people of South Africa's rainbow nation." Rotary's work
toward eradicating polio "has shown the power of a global network
of people who are ready to roll up their sleeves and put their heart
and soul into saving children from disability."
Mandela donated the award's $100,000 prize to the Nelson Mandela
Children's Fund.
Following his death, Rotary members in South Africa lauded Mandela
as "one of the 20th century's iconic symbols of freedom and
equality," "the father of the nation," and "a
leader of service." "Mandela was a man who overcame unimaginable
hardships to emerge as one of the greatest leaders of our time —
and one of our greatest humanitarians .
. . . [His] legacy of courage, determination,
and commitment will forever inspire us to move forward in our effort
to achieve a better, more peaceful world," said Rotary President
Ron Burton. By Dan Nixon, Rotary News, 13-Dec-2013
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