Manuel Durango, 53, and Ricardo Becerra Sáenz, 65, do not know each other, but they share a common story. Both live in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, and both have dealt with the repercussions of polio, a disease that shaped their lives since childhood.
— October 2025 —
Polio, a highly contagious disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis, once affected thousands of people in the Region of the Americas. In 1994, the Region was declared free of wild poliovirus, thanks to intensive vaccination campaigns.
Today, Manuel gets around on crutches, while Ricardo uses walking sticks or a wheelchair. Despite their physical challenges, both have excelled as professional broadcasters, and their voices have inspired and uplifted diverse audiences.