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Guinea Worm Disease: Nearing the End of a Neglected Disease

Guinea Worm DiseaseDracunculiasis, also called guinea worm disease (GWD), is a crippling parasitic infection that has afflicted humankind for thousands of years. The parasite Dracunculus medinensis causes this infection, which spreads when infected copepods (water fleas) contaminate drinking water. Historically endemic across large swathes of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, GWD has long been linked to excruciating pain, disabling disease and economic deprivation in affected populations. However, a global eradication campaign led by the Carter Center, supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF, has nearly eradicated this parasitic disease. The near-elimination of GWD highlights the power of coordinated global health efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Here is more information about guinea worm disease eradication across the world.

The Lifecycle of the Guinea Worm Parasite

People contract GWD when they drink water containing copepods infected with Guinea worm larvae. Once ingested, the copepods die, releasing larvae into the host’s body. The larvae penetrate the stomach and intestinal walls, eventually maturing into adult worms. Female worms, which can grow up to one meter long, migrate to the skin’s surface about one year after infection. The worm forms a painful blister, typically on the lower limbs, which eventually ruptures, allowing the worm to emerge over several weeks. This agonizing process causes intense pain, inflammation and secondary infections. Many victims submerge the affected area in water to seek relief, inadvertently releasing new larvae into the water source and completing the transmission cycle.

Health and Socioeconomic Impact

Although rarely fatal, guinea worm disease wreaks havoc on affected communities. The intense physical pain and immobility render individuals unable to work, farm or attend school. In rural agricultural settings, this loss of productivity can jeopardize food security and local economies. Beyond health consequences, GWD perpetuates cycles of poverty, increasing economic strain on already overburdened healthcare systems.

Global Guinea Worm Disease Eradication Campaign

In 1986, GWD affected 3.5 million people annually across 20 countries. The Carter Center spearheaded a global guinea worm disease eradication campaign to combat this debilitating disease. The strategy included four main interventions: improving access to safe drinking water using water filters, conducting health education to promote behavior changes, containing cases to prevent water contamination and applying larvicides to kill copepods in stagnant water. By 2023, these efforts reduced cases to a handful in South Sudan, Chad, Mali and Ethiopia, with most countries, such as Ghana and Nigeria, declared free of GWD.

Challenges Eradicating GWD

Despite significant progress, several challenges impede the final push toward eradication. Guinea worm infections in animals, primarily dogs in Chad, complicate efforts to interrupt transmission. Political instability and conflict in countries like South Sudan and Mali hinder surveillance and containment efforts. Environmental factors, such as changing weather and shifting water patterns, may also alter transmission dynamics, creating new challenges for eradication teams.

The Role of Community Engagement

Community involvement has been the cornerstone of the eradication campaign. Empowering local populations to take ownership of the process has accelerated progress. Several community-driven initiatives have played crucial roles in combating guinea worm disease (GWD) with measurable successes.

In 2010, Chad implemented a cash reward program, offering financial incentives to individuals who reported suspected cases of GWD in humans. In 2015, this program was expanded to include reports of infections in animals, significantly improving case detection and containment efforts. Public awareness campaigns through radio, television and community outreach have been key to the program’s success.

Another critical initiative launched in South Sudan, where extensive surveillance networks originated, engaging thousands of volunteers to track and report cases. By 2018, these efforts led to the country announcing the interruption of GWD transmission after 15 consecutive months of zero reported cases.

Health workers and volunteers have also played an essential role in educating communities on water filtration and promoting early case reporting. In addition, local leaders have enforced containment measures and promoted safe water practices, fostering a sense of shared responsibility and resilience in affected areas. Through these sustained efforts, community engagement continues to be a driving force in the final push toward eradicating guinea worm disease.

Looking Ahead

The near-eradication of guinea worm disease represents a historic milestone in global health. It demonstrates how long-term collaboration among diverse partners, community engagement and innovative solutions can overcome even the most persistent health challenges. While obstacles remain, the lessons learned from this campaign will inform future efforts against other NTDs. Achieving eradication will improve millions of lives and affirm that with the right tools and strategies, even the most neglected diseases can be defeated.

– Maheer Zaman

Maheer is based in Fairfax, VA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

How Ghana Combats NTDs

Ghana Combats NTDsGhana, a country known for its vibrant culture and rich history, faces a pressing challenge at the intersection of health and poverty: neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Affecting all 10 regions of the so-called “Gateway to Africa,” approximately 25 million Ghanaians are at risk of contracting one or more NTD. Combating NTDs is thus connected to alleviating poverty and sheltering the most vulnerable, as impoverished populations lack adequate sanitation and water resources to protect themselves. Here is how Ghana combats NTDs in order to preserve the health of its citizens.

What Are NTDs?

NTDs are a group of parasitic and bacterial infectious diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that NTDs claim 170,000 lives each year and affect more than 1.58 billion people globally. These diseases, including malaria, dengue fever, Chagas disease and schistosomiasis, pose significant challenges to global health and well-being. Often overlooked and underfunded, NTDs thrive in impoverished and marginalized communities. This exacerbates the cycle of poverty and hinders socio-economic development.

According to WHO, the most prevalent NTDs in Ghana include lymphatic filariasis (LF), onchocerciasis (Oncho), trachoma, schistosomiasis (SCH), soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), Buruli ulcer, yaws, leprosy, guinea worm, human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), cutaneous leishmaniasis and rabies.

How Do NTDs Affect Poverty in Ghana?

According to the World Bank, the poverty rate in Ghana will likely rise to 34% by 2025. NTDs in Ghana contribute to poverty by reducing productivity and economic potential due to health impacts. This imposes financial burdens through health care expenses and limits long-term prospects. Additionally, the Ghanaian NGO Ghana Health Service observes that NTDs reduce agricultural productivity and income opportunities. This traps communities in a cycle of poverty due to the lack of resources and access to health care, clean water, sanitation and education.

The Ways Ghana Combats NTDs

By adopting a holistic approach that combines policy, partnerships and community engagement, Ghana has made significant strides in reducing the burden of NTDs on its population, ultimately combatting poverty in the process.

National Policy and Commitment

Over the years, government efforts in Ghana have successfully eliminated several specific NTDs, including trachoma, through various strategies. In 2000, Ghana’s Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service first launched a national trachoma elimination program. This initiative successfully employed WHO’s endorsed elimination strategy known as SAFE. This encompasses Surgery for trichiasis, Antibiotics for infection clearance, promotion of Facial cleanliness and Environmental improvement to curtail transmission.

In addition, affected individuals received trichiasis surgery at no cost, underlining Ghana Health Service’s recognition of the economic hardship faced by those with trichiasis and its impact on their future earnings. Commitments in the form of community engagement, school programs, radio messages and environmental enhancements were instrumental in promoting facial cleanliness and fostering lasting change.

Collaborative Partnerships

One significant example of partnerships in Ghana to combat NTDs is the collaboration between the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and NGOs and international entities. The GHS works closely with organizations like the Carter Center, WHO and USAID. In addition, since 2013, these partnerships have been a pillar of mass drug administration. These collaborations provided technical expertise, financial support and resources. They assist the GHS in implementing control and elimination programs for NTDs. For instance, in addressing onchocerciasis in 2013, the GHS collaborated with the African Program for Onchocerciasis Control to implement community-directed treatment with ivermectin.

This approach empowered local community members to distribute ivermectin within their communities, ensuring treatment sustainability. Collaborative partnerships between governmental health services, NGOs and international organizations leverage resources, expertise and coordination to enhance the impact of interventions and contribute to progress in combating NTDs in Ghana.

Community Engagement and Empowerment

Ghana combats NTDs through community engagement and empowerment. This is exemplified through the establishment of Community Drug Distributor (CDD) networks established in the Ministry of Health’s first strategic plan to combat NTDs in 2013. The Ministry of Health renewed this plan in 2021.

These CDD networks train community members to distribute medication and provide health education. CDDs are trusted individuals from the local community who play a vital role in distributing preventive treatment and raising awareness about NTDs. This approach improves access to remote areas, increases treatment compliance and fosters sustainable disease control practices. By actively involving community members, it builds trust, ownership and a sense of self-reliance. Community engagement and empowerment through the CDD networks in Ghana effectively contribute to combating NTDs and raising awareness at the grassroots level.

Looking Forward

Ghana’s multifaceted response has made significant progress, eliminating NTDs such as trachoma and the guinea worm as of 2018. This ultimately showcases that the initiatives to combat NTDs in Ghana are heading in a promising direction.

Nevertheless, lymphatic filariasis, schistosomiasis, onchocerciasis and soil-transmitted helminths threaten Ghanaians’ health as well as financial security and require continued attention.

– Miriam Schuller
Photo: Flickr

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An Endemic Resolved: Trachoma in Mali

Trachoma in MaliLocated on the west coast, Mali is one of the largest countries on the continent of Africa. Mali faces extreme poverty, with numbers continuously rising since the COVID-19 pandemic. There are a variety of diseases in Mali that affect much of the population and can often be fatal.  Trachoma is a disease caused by a bacterial infection that affects the eyes and can eventually lead to blindness. When blindness occurs from trachoma, it is irreversible. According to data from 2022, 125 million people live in places with a trachoma endemic and are at severe risk of being exposed to the disease. Trachoma in Mali was a problem for a number of years. Women are twice as likely to suffer from blindness due to trachoma than men.

The disease spreads more in areas with poor sanitation and overpopulation. It is most commonly found in the larger areas of Africa, previously affecting Mali significantly. It is spread from person to person, originating from an infection in the eye. Trachoma in Mali has not been a quickly fixed battle. Data from the 1980s shows the former prevalence of the disease in the country and the dire need for a solution. 

The SAFE Strategy

Adopted by the WHO in 1993, the SAFE strategy helped supply countries with the resources needed to prevent the spread of trachoma. 

SAFE stands for surgery, antibiotics, facial cleanliness and environmental improvements. The strategy aimed to increase the number of surgical operations performed on those infected with trachoma as well as provide antibiotics to entire communities for the benefit of public health. Because of how easily trachoma can be spread, it was essential to promote facial cleanliness and understand that the infection rate is linked to overcrowded living conditions and unsanitary water. The SAFE strategy has been used in many different countries that suffer from a trachoma endemic, and Mali, among other countries, has finally overcome the public health problem. 

Trachoma in Mali

Political violence in Mali made it very difficult for the country to overcome this endemic problem. When the WHO created the SAFE strategy, the program slowly gained trust and developed a partnership with the Malian government. Diseases like trachoma affect the poorest communities and only lead countries to greater poverty rates. 

Trachoma is the first of the WHO’s neglected tropical diseases that Mali has eliminated, and Mali is the sixth country out of 29 in Africa that has successfully eliminated the disease. 

The WHO has several partners including The Carter Center and Sightsavers which all worked together to assist Mali in combating the disease. Through donations and medical training, trachoma is no longer a public health concern in Mali. It is important to note that several different organizations working alongside the WHO and the Malian government worked together to make this happen and improve the health and poverty rates of the people of Mali.

The World Health Organization recognized Mali for overcoming the trachoma endemic. Today, less than 5% of children suffer from inadequate access to antibiotics to treat trachoma, and the presence of trachoma in adults is nearly zero. On April 27, 2023, the World Health Organization announced that trachoma in Mali was no longer considered a public health problem.

– Alesandra Cowardin
Photo: Flickr

The Success in Eradicating Guinea Worm Disease

Guinea Worm Disease
The once common guinea worm disease, which used to be present in Africa and some parts of the Middle East and Asia, has almost been eradicated. Guinea worm disease is a parasite-caused disease that is prevalent in areas that lack access to clean drinking water. The worm’s larvae exist in many various types of water such as wells and lakes and fleas carry them making it easy for people to ingest them into their bodies. Guinea worm disease is a disease that directly affects people suffering from extreme poverty, as only exists in the 10% of the world’s population that lacks access to clean and safe water along with adequate health care.

How it Affects the Body

Someone who has contracted guinea worm disease often experiences symptoms such as fevers, vomiting, diarrhea, rash and more. People can remove the worm from the skin in a painful procedure, however, removing the worm can lead to many complications along with the possibility of bacterial infection. If a person does not fully extract the worm from the body, the dead worm’s remains in the skin can cause even more discomfort and issues in the surrounding area.

Though death is not terribly common with this disease, guinea worm disease can result in disabilities and impairment to the affected individual. The pain can become so extreme that mobility becomes difficult. These complications result in losing many days of work, schooling and many other important aspects of life and can even leave people impaired for months at a time. This leads to many financial losses for those suffering from the disease due to the inability to work.

Cases Over the Years

In 1985, there were around 892,055 cases of guinea worm disease worldwide. These cases mostly occurred in areas such as Western Africa, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya along with countries in Asia such as Pakistan and India. In 2022, however, there were only 13 cases worldwide, making it an all-time record low of reported cases. There is no vaccine or medicine that can prevent this disease, so the progress that the world has seen in eradicating this disease is in part to many volunteers heading to these remote places in the world. The Carter Center, which former president Jimmy Carter co-founded, became the leader of the fight to eradicate this disease in 1986. Since then, the volunteers that went to help these communities provided water filters, larvacides (an insecticide to kill mosquitos) and proper water safety education.

Eradication

With only 13 cases worldwide as of last year, guinea worm disease will become the second disease after smallpox to undergo eradication without a vaccine or medicine. Former President Carter was pleased to hear about the low number of cases, saying “Rosalynn and I are pleased with this continued advance toward eradicating Guinea worm disease. Our partners, especially those in the affected villages, work with us daily to rid the world of this scourge. We are heartened that eradication can be achieved soon.” Through the extensive work of these volunteers, this horrible and debilitating disease has become virtually eradicated in these poverty-stricken countries. Providing these villages with the proper education and equipment in order to properly fight this disease has led to the amazing progress that occurred over the past few decades.

– Olivia MacGregor
Photo: Flickr

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Eliminating Trachoma in Developing Countries

Trachoma in developing countriesTrachoma, an unsung yet highly infectious disease, is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the leading cause of blindness across the world. Data from March 2020 indicates that 137 million people live in areas that put them at risk of trachoma. It is estimated that several million people suffer from the disease worldwide, across 44 different countries. The disease is easily transmitted between two people and its effects can be devastating. The WHO has prioritized the elimination of trachoma in developing countries, where trachoma is common.

Trachoma and its Effects

The WHO reports that “transmission occurs through contact with infective discharges from the eyes and nose, particularly in young children, who harbor the main reservoir of infection. It is also spread by flies which have been in contact with the eyes and noses of infected people.” If left untreated, it can cause irreversible blindness. Trachoma also deeply affects the quality of life of families and entire communities where it is present as people with trachoma are often prevented from working and providing for their families. Additionally, women get trachoma at much higher rates than men because they are much more exposed to potentially infected children.

Trachoma Elimination Progress

Over the past two decades, significant work has been done in countries where trachoma is endemic, in order to eradicate the disease once and for all. This work has been extremely effective. Since 2002, those at risk of trachoma in developing countries and across the world have dropped 91%. Although that equates to 142 million people, the number is down from 1.5 billion people in 2002, which is progress on an incredible scale. Anthony Solomon, a medical officer in charge of WHO’s global trachoma elimination program, states that “We should be able to relegate trachoma to the history books in the next few years but we will only do so by redoubling our efforts now. The last few countries are likely to be the hardest. This is great progress but we cannot afford to become complacent.”

The Carter Center

In addition to the WHO, a number of different NGOs have been working to lower rates of trachoma, in developing countries especially. The Carter Center, founded by former U.S. president, Jimmy Carter, is an organization with a huge scope. Causes that the organization supports include peacebuilding, healthcare and human rights across the globe. The Carter Center’s commitment to ending trachoma is integral as it has provided resources such as eyelid surgery and other medical services for trachoma and is working to improve the environmental conditions of trachoma endemic countries. The Center states that “Over the course of 20 years (1999 to 2019), the Center has assisted national programs in providing 846,219  trachomatous trichiasis surgeries in Ethiopia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan and Sudan.” Although Trachoma can be potentially life-changing if left untreated, there are definite medical steps that can be taken before it reaches that point. The Carter Center and other organizations like it are providing crucial resources in order to save lives and eliminate trachoma in developing countries.

Trachoma’s Link to Poverty

Ultimately, eliminating trachoma in developing countries not only means improving the physical health of those who are currently at risk but it would greatly lower poverty rates in those same countries as well. Trachoma hurts the local economy, which in turn has a global impact. Providing the necessary healthcare and aid to those struggling with trachoma will in turn boost the quality of life in dozens of countries, therefore improving the global economy and allowing trade to flourish worldwide. The WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020 Alliance) set a target to eliminate trachoma entirely by 2020. While that goal may have been missed, significant progress has been made and blindness rates are likely to continue falling rapidly in the coming years.

– Leo Posel
Photo: Flickr

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The Carter Center and Guinea Worm Disease

Guinea Worm Disease
“[I want the] last guinea worm to die before I do.” Jimmy Carter may soon get his wish. The former President of the United States has spent the last 30+ years on a number of humanitarian missions through his namesake nonprofit—The Carter Center—but people may undoubtedly see one particular mission as ranking among its magna opera. That mission is to eradicate Guinea worm disease (GWD), and frankly, those worms are unpleasant at best.

What is Guinea Worm Disease?

GWD is a parasitic infection in which extremely small worms enter the human body through contaminated water, leading to crippling, painful blisters about a year later when the matured female worm emerges. It has been infecting people since ancient times, and in the mid-1980s, an estimated 3.5 million cases existed across at least 20 countries, including 17 in Africa. In 2019, however, there were only 54 cases in humans.

Success in Reducing GWD

This is thanks largely to the efforts of The Carter Center, in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. This partnership has been leading the charge against the disease both in introducing preventative measures in hotspots on the ground in Africa and by raising awareness in the developed world since 1986. Since no vaccine or other modern treatment exists for Guinea worm disease, The Carter Center’s strategies most often include working with health ministries and community-based volunteer groups in order to stop the spread of GWD and bring attention to it via health education.

The attention is important because of the rapid ability of the disease to spread. One missed case can lead to 80+ new infections over one year and delay a country’s ability to control the disease for just as long. This is partly why the WHO has strict criteria when assessing the disease in a given area.

When Can One Consider a Country Free of GWD?

A country must have zero new cases for at least three years for it to receive a declaration of being free of GWD. Despite the rigorous criteria, some countries continue to encounter problems confronting the disease. Chad, for example, has reported almost 2,000 infections in dogs in 2019—a testament to the disease’s stealth and endurance over the years.

In fact, “years” may be an understatement—GWD has emerged in Medieval Middle Eastern and Ancient Egyptian texts under a variety of labels, with some Egyptian mummies even showing evidence of the worm’s presence in their remains. The Old Testament even refers to it as a ‘fiery serpent’ (citing the on-fire feeling when the creature emerges through the skin).

The Correlation Between GWD and Sanitation

In more recent years, the disease received highlight in the early ‘80s as an international threat to clean water—which is where the fight to eliminate the disease originated. Even today, GWD exists primarily in countries—notably Chad and Ethiopia—that consistently rank among the poorest in the world (and are thus most lacking in access to clean water).

The Carter Center has sought to combat this shortfall as well, specifically by introducing a straw-like pipe filter that allows people in affected countries to drink from any water source without fear of contamination.

The eradication of the disease would mean the end of widespread, debilitating illness across several predominantly African nations. Although the fight has gone on for decades, the organizations working to eliminate it now say that the end is in sight. Even Jimmy Carter made his wish—that GWD would go before him—as he was battling cancer a few years ago.

Now, the eradication of all diseases of this sort will be the target of the U.S.’s End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act, which entered into law earlier in 2020. The goal of the act is to facilitate and coordinate an effective, research-based international effort to end neglected tropical diseases, such as GWD, with special emphasis on impoverished nations.

If the world meets international goals, GWD would become the second human disease (behind smallpox) and the first parasitic disease to experience eradication. It would also be the first disease to disappear without the use of a vaccine or medicine.

– Bardia Memar
Photo: Flickr

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Disease in South Sudan: Ending Guinea Worm

Disease in South Sudan

South Sudan is the youngest country in the world and with this has come significant growing pains. Despite the ongoing civil war, the alleviation of disease in South Sudan is quickly becoming one of its positive developments. The most recent example was the announcement of the eradication of the guinea worm within the country’s borders.

What is the Guinea Worm and Who Does it Affect?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), guinea worm disease only affects the poorest 10 percent of the world’s population. Specifically, it occurs in people who do not have access to clean water or health care.

The disease takes hold when the worms swim around stagnant ponds and find their way into people who drink water from contaminated ponds. The disease takes a year to manifest, and once it shows, patients have severe flu-like symptoms and blisters that cause intense pain and disability. The most efficient way for subjects to relieve the pain is to dunk the affected area, almost always the foot or leg, into water. In the water, the worms spawn thousands of larvae, thus restarting the cycle.

Eradication of the Disease in South Sudan

Dr. Riek Gai Kok, South Sudan’s health minister, announced the end of the guinea worm disease in South Sudan at the Carter Center in Atlanta at the end of March. The Carter Center, a philanthropic organization started by former president Jimmy Carter, has provided much assistance to the world’s youngest nation.

In efforts to help eradicate guinea worm, the Carter Center has distributed a pesticide to one volunteer in each Sudanese village affected by the parasitic worm. The volunteer then pours the pesticide into all the ponds in and around their town.

It has been 15 months since the last case of guinea worm disease in South Sudan, longer than the incubation period for the worm, but still short of the three year period required by the World Health Organization to officially declare the guinea worm extinct in the area. Still, Dr. Kok thanked the organization and the thousands of volunteers it trained.

This year will be an important one to identify the benefits of eliminating the disease in South Sudan. Most cases appear in July, which is a crucial time for the agrarian population in the country, and the worm can cripple entire villages.

Why Eradication is Important

Even though guinea worm disease seldom ends in death, the disease is still debilitating. It handicaps its victims on average for around two months, but sometimes the incapacitation is permanent. More than 90 percent of South Sudanese citizens depend on labor occupations like fishing, herding or farming for sustenance and employment. So, when disability removes the victim from the workforce, there are devastating results.

To compound this, a workforce shortage resulting from the mass exodus during the civil war forced children into the fields. According to the CDC’s statistics, in villages where guinea worm disease is most prevalent, over 60 percent of children miss school.

This is the main reason why eliminating guinea worm disease in South Sudan is so important. The connection between the disease and poverty is circular. While the illness is a result of living in destitute conditions, it also is a significant cause of poverty when it keeps its victims and their families from completing their jobs or from going to school.

As a result, government officials are pleased about eradicating the disease in South Sudan because it is a boon to their public health system and long-term economy. Furthermore, in one of the most food insecure countries, the ability to have an entire harvesting season unabated by a preventable disease could be a major step toward ending famine and alleviating poverty in South Sudan.

– David Jaques

Photo: Flickr

Taking Steps to Eliminate River Blindness

Taking Steps to Eliminate River Blindness
The Carter Center in Atlanta is working to make the eradication of river blindness a worldwide goal for the World Health Organization (WHO), as the WHO determines which diseases will appear on the world health agendas.

River blindness is caused by a parasite that is spread through the bites of black flies. The flies breed in and near fast flowing rivers, which is where the disease gets its name. The larvae of the parasite causes skin irritation, itching and a range of eye diseases, including blindness in the worst cases.

People in 36 countries are at risk for contracting river blindness. About 99% of the 17.7 million cases of larvae infection are from Africa. Nigeria is the most endemic country in Africa, with reportedly half of the world’s cases.

That is why Nigerian businessman Sir Emeka Offor gave the Carter Center $10 million to aid to eliminate river blindness in his home country. This is on top of the quarter million he donated several years back. This is a huge turning point in dealing with the disease.

The Carter Center has been working with the Nigerian Health Ministry for twenty years. The program uses community-based health education and administers the only drug that can treat river blindness, Mectizan. In fact, the company that makes Mectizan made a commitment to donate the drug until every case of river blindness is solved. The donation from Sir Offor means that the Carter Center can reach more people, especially those in difficult areas to reach. Coverage will increase, meaning that the Carter Center will be closer to reaching their goal of eliminating river blindness by 2020. In 2014, 7 million Nigerians were treated.

The Carter Center has already been successful in Latin America. Colombia was the first country to be declared free of river blindness in 2013, with Ecuador following  in 2014. Both Guatemala and Mexico are currently going through the verification process to be declared river blindness-free by the WHO. The only areas left to treat are hard-to-reach areas of the Amazon in Venezuela and Brazil.

If the Carter Center can prove with this latest donation that their program is successful in the most plagued country, Nigeria, on top of their success in Latin America, then the WHO will be more likely to join the movement and target river blindness as a disease to fight.

– Katherine Hewitt

Sources: AP News, Carter Center 1, Carter Center 2, Inside Philanthropy
Photo: GHIF

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After the White House: How Past Presidents Continue to Make a Difference

presidents
Although President Obama has only 20 months left of his presidency, he can still do a lot of good once outside the Oval Office. Here are four ways former presidents made a difference for the world’s poor:

George Bush: The former Republican president is well known for his AIDs relief work in Africa. While in office, President Bush signed the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The program significantly increased access to antiretroviral drugs on the African continent, saving millions of lives. That effort set the stage for his post-presidential humanitarian work with First Lady Laura Bush through the George W. Bush Institute. Located at the Bush Center in Dallas, the organization promotes global health and human rights through a variety of programs. Through the Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon initiative, for instance, the president and first lady are working to reduce deaths associated with cervical and breast cancer in the developing world.

Bill Clinton: Following his presidency, Mr. Clinton sought to address humanitarian issues worldwide. The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation has quickly become a cornerstone in the fight for improved global health, economic development, gender equality and environmental protection. Founded in 2001, the Foundation includes a wide range of humanitarian endeavors. The Clinton Health Access Initiative, for example, works to improve healthcare infrastructure, while the Clinton Development Initiative stimulates economic growth by increasing access to financial services for entrepreneurs in the developing world. The Foundation also has a strong track record in promoting the well being of women and girls across the globe.

George H. W. Bush: At 90-years-old, George Bush Sr. is the oldest president on this list, besting fellow nonagenarian Jimmy Carter by a few months. The elder Bush shows no signs of slowing down though; he’s gone skydiving on his 80th, 85th and 90th birthdays, and leads an active life. The president has been just as active in promoting public service through his Points of Light organization, which encourages volunteerism worldwide. The network boasts 250,000 service projects every year across 30 countries. That adds up to 30 million hours of volunteer service each year.

Jimmy Carter: President Carter has had many roles in his life: peanut farmer, Governor of Georgia, President of the United States—but he has perhaps found his great success as an international humanitarian. He is one of four presidents to receive a Nobel Peace Prize, but the only one to do so after leaving office. Most of his efforts have involved The Carter Center, which was founded in 1982 and takes “Waging Peace, Eradicating Disease, Building Hope” as its motto. The Center has targeted a wide range of diseases, including guinea worm, river blindness, trachoma and lymphatic filariasis. Thanks to the president’s efforts, the prevalence of guinea worm disease has been reduced by 99.99 percent since 1986.

– Kevin McLaughlin

Sources: The Clinton Foundation, The George W. Bush Institute, Points of Light
Photo: Flickr

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The Carter Center

Even though President Carter officially retired from political office with his defeat in the 1980 presidential election, he has not shied away from public life. The 39th President of the United States has dedicated his life to work toward alleviating human suffering, preventing conflicts, enhancing freedom and democracy, and improving health throughout the world. It is through his foundation, the Carter Center, that he has carried out his life’s work – and he has found much success in his endeavors.

The Carter Center, founded in 1982, is located in Carter’s home state of Georgia, near his presidential library in Atlanta. The nongovernmental organization has the mission to advance human rights and alleviate human suffering throughout the world. Throughout its history, the organization has partnered with other NGOs, businesses, and national and foreign governments to fulfill its international missions.

It has been successful in observing democratic elections throughout the world in the efforts to maintain peace. The organization has promoted democratic initiatives that empower governments in transitioning governments into building stronger democratic institutions and practices.

The Carter Center has also been involved in eliminating infectious diseases across the world. The organization has partnered with multiple international partners in order to eliminate trachoma, a bacterial infection spread by houseflies. Jimmy Carter’s interest in eradicating trachoma comes from his experiences with the infection during his youth.

Though the infection was eliminated in the United States in the 1970s, it is still prevalent in many countries in Africa and Asia. The Carter Center has distributed nearly 100 million doses of trachoma medicine called Zithromax into villages across Asia and Africa. Along with medicine distribution, the organization has pushed to improve water access, personal hygiene, and accessibility to antibiotics, which has led to reducing the effects of the disease in these regions.

Jimmy Carter’s work outside the Oval Office has been very noteworthy, and has garnered much respect from many other notable world leaders. In 2007, the late Nelson Mandela invited Carter to join his advocacy group of world leaders called “The Elders,” which also promoted human rights initiatives.

In recognition for his achievements in promoting peaceful resolution, improving health through disease eradication, and assisting in global democracy, President Carter was presented the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. This prize is just one of the many honors the former president has earned in recognition of his lifetime achievement in international improvement.

– Travis Whinery

Sources: Scientific America, Pharmtech, The Carter Center, The Sun Journal
Photo: Impeller