How One Rotarian's Vision United Global Partners
When Long Beach Rotarian Adriana Lanting embarked on her Rotary journey in 2016 as my District Governor partner, she couldn't have predicted that she would soon become one of the architects of a new Rotary global health partnership. Her story demonstrates how one Rotarian's dedication can catalyze transformative change on a global scale.
A Vision Takes Flight
What began as a chance meeting at a Rotary Institute in 2017 would evolve into a masterclass in bringing together major global health partners. Adriana emerged as a key figure in uniting three powerhouse organizations – Rotary International, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and World Vision – in a groundbreaking collaboration. Each organization committed $2 million, creating a combined $6 million investment in community health that would become Rotary's first-ever Program of Scale.
Building Bridges, Creating Partnerships
"The magnitude of the malaria challenge demanded something bigger than business as usual," she explains. Her genius lay in recognizing that each partner brought unique strengths to the table:
Rotary's grassroots network and community credibility
The Gates Foundation's strategic vision and expertise in global health
World Vision's established presence and implementation capabilities in Zambia
Getting three major organizations to align their resources and approaches was no small feat. It required diplomatic finesse, strategic vision, and unwavering persistence. Her success in securing equal $2 million commitments from each partner demonstrated both her negotiation skills and the compelling nature of the program's design.
It's Personal
At the Malaria conference prior to a recent Rotary Institute, Adriana was asked why her quest is so important. She says in Zambia she met a young father who, when his son was ill, couldn't find anyone to help. After several days, he borrowed a bicycle, strapped his boy to his back and rode for almost an entire day to the nearest hospital; only to find his son had died during the journey. She says "How can I not continue?"
From Concept to Reality
The initiative that emerged from these partnerships would make history as Rotary's first Program of Scale, focusing on training and deploying community health workers across the Copperbelt region of Zambia. These neighborhood health workers serve as the front-line defense against malaria and other preventable diseases that continue to claim too many lives, especially among young children.
The program works by identifying respected community members and providing them with comprehensive training in malaria prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. These health workers then become trusted resources in their neighborhoods, able to:
Conduct rapid diagnostic tests
Provide life-saving treatments
Educate families about prevention
Track and report cases
Connect patients to additional care when needed
A Model for the Future
What makes this program truly revolutionary is not just its scale and sustainability, but how it demonstrates the power of strategic partnerships. Rather than organizations working in parallel, this program shows how aligned missions and pooled resources can create exponentially greater impact.
The results have been remarkable:
Thousands of health workers trained
Hundreds of thousands of people gained access to care
Significant reductions in malaria cases where workers are deployed
A model that can be replicated in other regions
The Ripple Effect
For Lanting, watching this vision become reality has reinforced her belief in Rotary's unique ability to catalyze transformative change.
"When Rotarians come together around a bold idea, bringing our networks, expertise, and resources to bear – there's really no limit to what we can accomplish."
The success of this first Program of Scale has implications far beyond malaria. It demonstrates how Rotary can serve not just as an implementing partner but as a convener of major global health initiatives. The model of trained community health workers, supported by strong institutional partnerships, could be adapted to address other health challenges worldwide.
The Adventure Continues
What started as an idea Adriana kicked around with me in 2016 has blossomed into a program that's changing the face of community healthcare in Zambia. For Rotarians wondering how they can make a difference, Adriana's journey offers an inspiring example of what one person can accomplish. Sometimes the call to adventure starts with simply raising your hand and saying "yes" to an ambitious vision. In doing so, you might find yourself not just participating in history, but helping to write it.
Very inspiring!