在協助根除小兒痲痹20年之後，威廉•薩金特在今年年會受到表揚。

After two decades spent helping to eradicate polio, William Sergeant was honored at this year's convention.

丹麥哥本哈根 -國際的根除小兒痲痹等疾病計畫委員會主委威廉•薩金特(William Sergeant)為根除小兒痲痹奉獻20年以上的時光。當他在7月1日把他的位子交給代理副主委羅伯特•史考特（Robert S. Scott ）時， 他從此退休，開始人生另一個階段。

Copenhagen, Denmark — International PolioPlus Committee Chair William T. Sergeant has dedicated more than two decades to eradicating polio. On 1 July, he begins another of life's chapters as he hands his position to Robert S. Scott, acting vice-chair, and enters into retirement.

6月13日數以千計扶輪社員在2006 年國際扶輪年會以掌聲感謝薩金特的辛勞。

Thousands of Rotarians thanked Sergeant for his efforts with their applause during the 2006 RI Convention on 13 June.

「他所奉獻給扶輪的時間及精力超過我們大多數人，」扶輪基金會主委戴甫靈(Frank Devlyn) 說： 「對於比爾犧牲個人來奉獻給根除小兒痲痹計畫，我們及今天能走路的500 萬兒童，應該深深感激比爾。」

"His commitment of time and energy surpasses what most of us have given to Rotary," Foundation Chair Frank Devlyn said. "We, as well as 5 million children who can walk today, owe our deepest gratitude to Bill for the personal sacrifice he has made in committing himself to PolioPlus."

世界衛生組織也在於5月23日在瑞士日內瓦世界衛生大會，以一個特別獎項來表彰薩金特對於全球根除小兒痲痹運動的領導。這是在世界衛生組織有史以來第一次舉行特別全體會議來表彰一個個人或組織。

The World Health Organization also recognized Sergeant with a special citation for his leadership in the global polio eradication effort at the World Health Assembly on 23 May in Geneva, Switzerland. It was the first time in WHO history that a special plenary session was called to recognize a single individual or organization.

薩金特在早期各組織間的合作扮演關鍵的角色，後來才有國際扶輪、世界衛生組織(WHO)、美國疾病控制及預防中心(CDC)、及聯合國兒童基金會(UNICEF) 所領導的全球根除小兒痲痹行動。從那時開始薩金特就一直協助指導以及指揮這項行動-及扶輪在其中的關鍵角色。

Sergeant played a key role in the early collaboration of what later became the Global Polio Eradication Initiative led by Rotary International, WHO, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and UNICEF. Sergeant has helped guide and direct the initiative — and Rotary's critical role in it — ever since.

世界衛生組織的大衛•賀曼（David Heymann, ）博士讚譽薩金特為一個對於根除小兒痲痹計畫有願景的人，他的領導協助確保這項運動獲得必要的政治及財務的支持。在該組織的世界衛生大會的一場演講中，賀曼說「在比爾的指導之下，這個夥伴關係已經為民間及政府合夥改進全球公衛立下黃金標準。」

Dr. David Heymann, of WHO, praised Sergeant as a visionary of the polio eradication program whose leadership helped ensure the political and financial support necessary for the effort. In a speech at the organization's World Health Assembly, Heymann said, "Under Bill's guidance, this partnership has set the gold standard for private-public partnerships to improve global public health."

在薩金特掌舵的12年期間，國際扶輪捐獻了6億5千萬美元給全世界最大的公共衛生行動，從而減少百分之99的小兒痲痹病例，把小兒痲痺病毒瀕臨根除殆盡的目標。

During Sergeant's 12 years at the helm, RI contributed US$650 million to the world's largest public health initiative, which has reduced the incidence of polio by 99 percent and brought the poliovirus to the brink of eradication.

對於得到世界衛生組織的頒獎、薩金特說：「我非常震驚。他們對我讚譽有加，但這份讚譽不是對我而已，也是對扶輪社員們。」

"I was totally shocked," Sergeant said of receiving the award from WHO. "They said wonderful words about me, but it was not just for me, it was for Rotarians."

薩金特是美國田納西州園嶺（Park Ridge ）扶輪社社員， 也是一位前地區總監， 曾得過漢南尼爾（Hannah Neil） 兒童世界獎（1998） 。他也獲頒在美國維吉尼亞州布雷斯堡（Blacksburg ）的維吉尼亞州理工校友會的2006 年人道獎。

Sergeant, a member of the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA, and past director, district governor, vice president, and Foundation trustee, was recipient of the first Hannah Neil World of Children Award (1998). He also was granted the 2006 Humanitarian Award by the Virginia Tech Alumni Association in Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.

「我希望能繼續工作到完成根除小兒痲痹為止，但可惜我的結論是世界衛生組織、聯合國兒童基金會、疾病控制及預防中心、及扶輪的崇高目標應該由一個年紀少於86歲的人來領導，」薩金特說。「我將會竭盡心力一直做到那個偉大的日子來到。」

"I wish I could continue my work until eradication is achieved, but I have sadly concluded that the noble goal of WHO, UNICEF, CDC, and Rotary deserves the leadership of someone less than 86 years of age," Sergeant said. "I will do whatever I can, in activity and spirit, until that great day arrives."

薩金特說，能令他感到興奮的並不是未來還有什麼事要做， 而是沒有事可做。「要是7月無事可做， 那有多好。今後又可以回到早上起床之後， 如果還想睡可以再個睡回籠覺的日子，」他說。「我期盼退休生活的來臨。」 

Sergeant said what excites him is not what lies ahead, but instead, what doesn't. "I like the idea of having nothing to do in July. Just going back getting up in the morning and going back to bed if I want to," he said. "I look forward to being retired."