Robert Keegan, deputy director of CDC’s Global Immunization Division, is a crusader in the war against polio, a visionary leader who has seen firsthand the needless suffering wrought by the disease. Since he became involved in CDC’s global efforts to eradicate polio in 1991, Keegan has visited more than 25 countries and helped organize teams of thousands of volunteers who have overcome seemingly insurmountable hurdles to vaccinate millions of the world’s most vulnerable children.
As Keegan explains, polio remains in just a few areas, where extreme challenges persist. Healthcare infrastructures are devastated. Roads and transportation are often non-existent. Sporadic electricity barely keeps freezers running to store vaccines. War or civil conflicts create severe hazards for health workers and children alike. Yet against all odds,the polio eradication campaign –spearheaded by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, Rotary International and CDC – is indeed succeeding. The number of polio cases reported worldwide has declined by 99 percent since 1988. The disease,which once affected 350,000 people worldwide, now affects about 1,000 children each year in parts of Africa and Southern Asia.
Keegan not only contributes his time and talent to the cause, but also his generous support. When he was awarded CDC’s distinguished William C. Watson Jr. Medal of Excellence, Keegan donated his award money to the CDC Foundation to help establish the Polio Eradication Heroes Fund.The fund honors those injured or killed while working on vaccination campaigns with recognition and a cash award for their families. Similarly, Keegan joined with the CDC Foundation to establish the Endowment for Global Health Priorities, which offers a flexible source of funding for essential services and equipment such as bullet-proof vests for health workers vaccinating children in war-torn Somalia, meals-ready-to-eat for workers in Sudan, satellite phones, and training in other countries.
“In my mind, these two CDC Foundation funds are extraordinary examples of leveraging small amounts of funding to do a tremendous amount of good,” says Keegan. “When you see a child paralyzed with polio, and you realize that it’s totally preventable with existing vaccines, there’s a high level of motivation to get involved and make a difference.”
Why he’s a hero:
“Bob is one of the very best in global health, and his leadership, energy and innovation have played a pivotal role in CDC’s global health activities, especially in the global immunization arena. He has a tremendous sense of humor and is very self-effacing. He goes out of his way to give credit and recognition to others. He received CDC’s distinguished William C. Watson Jr. Medal of Excellence as well as other honors and is highly regarded in the global public health community. The polio eradication funds Bob established with the CDC Foundation demonstrate his remarkable creativity and vision - qualities that are benefiting public health workers around the world.” - STEPHEN L. COCHI, M.D., M.P.H., (ACTING) DIRECTOR, NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM, CDC
How a little funding goes a long way:
“I’ve worked to eradicate polio in Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan, and now in Nigeria. In Somalia, security is non-existent. In South Sudan, there’s no infrastructure. Knowing that we can rely on full support from people like Bob keeps us going. He gives all he can - not just with these funds, but in everything he does. Not only have I personally benefited from bullet-proof vests in Somalia and quick meals in South Sudan, but I’ve seen thousands of volunteers working without benefits in very difficult situations. They risk their lives every day and are most appreciative of the Polio Eradication Heroes Fund. It makes a tremendous difference to them and to their families.” - ELIAS DURRY, M.D., M.P.H., CDC MEDICAL OFFICER, PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE COMMISSIONED CORPS, NAIROBI