For years, Guinea Worm eradication has remained the flagship health program for the carter center – the brainchild of former U-S President Jimmy Carter. Guinea worm is contracted through the consumption of contaminated stagnant water. The disease has been eradicated from many countries around the world. Today, the Carter Center and its partners are fighting guinea worm disease in the 13 remaining endemic countries – all in Africa. The partners are steadily defeating a disease that has plagued the world's least developed countries for 3,000 years. Once eradicated, Guinea Worm disease will be the first parasitic disease to be gone forever.
Former President Carter heads the Carter Center. He spoke from Atlanta, Georgia, with English to Africa reporter Ashenafi Abedje.