Volume XXXVI Number 3 Immunize and Protect Your Family June 2014 Ciro de Quadros Honored as a PAHO Public Health Beloved Dr. Ciro de Hero of the Americas Quadros, 1940-2014 Dr. Ciro de Quadros, was honored on 25 April, 2014 as a “Public Health Hero of the Americas” by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). Ciro de Quadros accepted the award from PAHO/WHO Director Carissa F. Etienne during an international vaccine symposium marking the 20th anniversary of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, where Ciro de Quadros was Executive Vice President and Director of Vaccine Advocacy and Education until the day of his death. “Ciro’s long and distinguished career in public health not only coincided with but indeed accelerated the growing use of vaccines to save lives and eliminate diseases in the Americas and beyond,” said Dr. Etienne in honoring Ciro de Quadros. “We at PAHO believe that no single person has done more to extend the benefits of immunization to people throughout the Americas.” "I am deeply honored to be recognized by PAHO and to have been part of Latin America's immunization efforts,” said Ciro de Quadros. In the late 1970s, Dr. de DR. CIRO DE QUADROS, 1940-2014 Quadros founded the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) at On 28 May this year, we lost a PAHO, which encour- visionary, a mentor, and a friend, aged and supported and one of the people that the countries of Latin contributed most extraordinarily America and the to the world of global immuniza- Caribbean in making tion. Dr. Ciro de Quadros made vaccines available for a tremendous difference in the populations that had previously been avail- lives of millions—not just in those able only in wealthier he saved through vaccination countries. efforts, but also in those of us who were lucky enough to learn from In the early 1980s, working with him. Ciro de Quadros PAHO’s Director, Dr. Carissa F. Etienne, with Dr. Ciro de Quadros after began advocating We have collected dedications, giving him the “Public Hero of the Americas” award, Washington DC, for the eradication memorials, and even some of his 25 April 2014. of polio from the own words to highlight who he See CIRO DE QUADROS HONORED on page 2 was, his accomplishments, and what he meant to us. In honor of his In This Issue 4 In the Mood for Wiping out Vaccine-Preventable Diseases: memory and continuous legacy, 1 Ciro de Quadros Honored as a PAHO Public Health Interview with Dr. Ciro de Quadros we dedicate this special edition of Hero of the Americas 6 Remembering Ciro de Quadros the “Immunization Newsletter” to 1 Beloved Dr. Ciro de Quadros, 1940-2014 7 Obstacles Overcome: Excerpts from ‘Experiences with 2 Remembering a Hero Smallpox Eradication in Ethiopia’ by Dr. Ciro de Quadros its creator and first editor, Dr. Ciro 3 Dr. Jon K. Andrus Speaks at PAHO Memorial for 7 Selected Obituaries Commemorating Dr. Ciro de Quadros de Quadros. n Dr. Ciro de Quadros 8 In Memory of Dr. Ciro de Quadros 2 Immunization Newsletter Volume XXXVI Number 3 June 2014 Pan American Health Organization Remembering a Hero Ciro Carlos Araujo de Quadros was born on January 30, 1940, in Rio Pardo, Brazil. He graduated from medical school in 1966 at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Dr. Ciro de Quadros, a central figure in the of the national immunization programs across polio and measles eradication efforts in the eradication of polio from Latin America and the Americas, the training and development Americas. the Caribbean and a Public Health Hero of of human resources, the overall strategy of In honoring Ciro de Quadros with this Public the Americas, passed away on May 28, 2014. the regular program, and the planning and Health Hero award in April 2014, Dr. Carissa His contributions and the impact he made on execution of vaccination campaigns. Under Etienne, Director of PAHO, stated “His [de the world will live on forever. his leadership, the Region of the Americas Quadro’s] leadership truly set the stage for became the first region of the world to In 1974 Ciro founded the Expanded Program PAHO’s continued strength in immunization on Immunization (EPI) at PAHO, which eradicate polio and to eliminate measles and, more important, for our Region's success encouraged and supported the countries of and rubella. His influence expanded to in maintaining immunization coverage rates Latin America and the Caribbean in making other regions of the world as well. He was that are the envy of other regions of the world”. vaccines available that had previously been a visionary and a dreamer and has provided “We at PAHO believe that no single person has available only in wealthier countries. He was the Americas and the rest of the world with a done more to extend the benefits of immuniza- also the key figure behind the creation of the strong example of public health excellence. tion to people throughout the Americas.” PAHO Revolving Fund for Vaccine Procure- In addition to heading PAHO’s Immunization In addition to his work, Ciro also served as ment, established in 1979, which pools program, Ciro also served as WHO’s Chief Associate Adjunct Professor at the Johns demand for vaccines and other supplies, Epidemiologist for the Smallpox Eradication Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public achieving economies of scale that allow Program in Ethiopia from 1970 to 1976. He Health in Baltimore and Adjunct Professor participating PAHO member countries to was considered a leader in the develop- in the Department of Tropical Medicine purchase vaccines at low prices. ment of surveillance and containment strat- at The George Washington University In addition to founding the EPI program at egies that were used in the eradication of School of Medicine and Health Sciences in PAHO, Ciro was influential in the development smallpox worldwide, in addition to leading Washington, DC. n CIRO DE QUADROS HONORED cont. from page 2 Members of PAHO’s Immunization Staff with Members of PAHO’s Immunization Staff with Members of PAHO’s Immunization Staff with Dr. Ciro de Quadros, 1993. Dr. Ciro de Quadros, 2002. Dr. Ciro de Quadros, 2014. Americas, and in the next few years keenly aware that he has been a force for The Public Health Hero of the he successfully mobilized support from good in our Region and in the world.” Americas, PAHO’s highest distinction, other immunization experts, other was established for PAHO’s Centennial Ciro de Quadros acknowledged the impor- organizations and health authorities in celebration in 2002. It honors individ- tance of collaborative efforts to the success PAHO Member States. uals who have made extraordinary of immunization efforts in the Americas and contributions to improving the health “His leadership and vision were essen- worldwide. He also was clear that much and well-being of the peoples of the tial to our Region becoming the first remains to be done: “While we still have Western Hemisphere. Even though Dr. in the world to eradicate polio, a much to accomplish in global health, our Ciro de Quadros received numerous success story that inspired the global achievements to date would not have been awards during his public health career, polio eradication campaign,” said Dr. possible without the leadership of govern- he considered the Public Health Hero of Etienne. “The list of his contributions ments and collaboration with development the Americas award one of the closest was much longer, but all of us here are partners," he said while accepting the Award. to his heart. n Immunization Newsletter Volume XXXVI Number 3 June 2014 Pan American Health Organization 3 Dr. Jon K. Andrus Speaks at PAHO Memorial for Dr. Ciro de Quadros We are here to celebrate the life of children and bring the diseases feared Shining Path guerrilla group Ciro de Quadros. As you know, he under control. He obtained invest- in Peru agreed to take part. passed away last week on 28 May at ments from UNICEF, USAID, 1:38pm. He was 74. We are honored CDC, Rotary International, the The last known case of polio in the to have his family here: Susanna, Inter-American Development Western Hemisphere occurred in Julia and Cristina. No one in the Bank and other organizations, and Peru in August 23rd, 1991. past 50 years did more than Dr. de established an international fund to Quadros to prevent the spread of help poorer countries buy vaccines While working for the Brazilian infectious diseases, particularly in at a discount. public health service, he developed the Americas. Begin- an interest in epide- ning in Brazil in the miology and infec- 1960’s, he helped tious diseases. He arrest smallpox in a received a master remote region of the of public health Amazon and then in degree in 1968 from Western Ethiopia. He the National School later led programs of Public Health in that brought an Rio de Janeiro. end to polio and measles, sometimes Dr. de Quadros left brokering cease- the Pan American fires among warring Health Organiza- factions in order to tion in 2002, after vaccinate children in turning his atten- battle zones. Today tion to eradicating we have the oppor- measles from the tunity to celebrate Dr. Ciro de Quadros with Dr. Jon K. Andrus, 2004. Americas. his life. And live successes that are A year later, he also PAHO’s successes. He taught governmental health and joined the Sabin Vaccine Institute, finance ministers about the social where he was an executive vice After leading the eradication of benefits of preventive medicine.