Global Outlook

 

 

Foundation Trustee Chair Robert S. Scott presented Rotary's US$100 Million Challenge to incoming district governors at the 2008 International Assembly in San Diego. Alyce Henson/Rotary Images

Interview with Robert S. Scott

This interview with Robert S. Scott, chair of the International PolioPlus Committee, was conducted in May by Paul Engleman for a Global Outlook article on the role of advocacy in the polio eradication effort. Read the full article here.

Global Outlook: What is the biggest challenge you face in getting the attention of government officials to support the polio eradication effort?

Robert Scott: With the eradication initiative going on more than 20 years now, many of the ministers in the G8 have changed and many do not even know that polio is still a problem. With each change of minister, we have to start all over again.

GO: As the campaign to eradicate polio succeeds, does it get easier or harder to keep the focus strong?

RS: Undoubtedly, it is harder. When there are fewer than 2,000 cases per year as compared to 1,000 per day when we started--and with the pandemic of AIDS, mounting malaria cases, tuberculosis on the rise again, and of course, all the diseases associated with contaminated water--it is very difficult to explain to the financial and health ministers the continued need for large funds to finally eradicate polio.

GO: What has disappointed you the most in the last two years?

RS: The quite marked reduction in support from the G8 countries, despite the promises to support polio made by them every year at annual G8 summits.

GO: And what has pleased you the most in the last two years?

RS: The continued support from Rotarians and the confidence shown by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with their $100 million challenge grant to Rotary's PolioPlus program. Without that financial support, Rotary's financial funding would have been markedly less.

GO: Are there any people in particular you would like to single out for their efforts, people who have been especially helpful or inspiring to you?

RS: I have a deep respect for past UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and his constant support of the initiative. I have been equally impressed by his successor, Ban Ki-moon, who has also demonstrated his strong support for polio eradication and the work of Rotary.

I must also include in this list all the Rotarians who, for more than 20 years in both donor and receiving countries, have spent thousands upon thousands of hours volunteering to eradicate polio.

GO: Are the obstacles to your work primarily economic or political?

RS: I have believed for many years that our chief stumbling block is lack of adequate financial backing. This is still the case and is now aggravated by the decreased support of the G8 group.

GO: What would you like the 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide to know about the work you are doing?

RS: I encourage every Rotarian to keep the faith as I and others try to keep the pressure on the donor governments. Most important, I’d like to thank them for the funds they have raised and continue to donate and for the time they have spent as we eradicate this virus.

GO: Is there anything you would like to add?

RS: Polio eradication is realistic and will happen.

Read another GO Web extra about polio from an interview with Anand Balanchandran, interagency coordinator of the World Health Organization.