Guinea Worm
Photographs | Oral Histories | Documents | Other Media
Guinea worm is poised to be the second human disease to be eradicated after smallpox. The Carter Center, with partners like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, began leading the international campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease in 1986. That year, it was estimated that 3.5 million cases occurred annually in 21 countries in Africa and Asia. Guinea worm disease is a painful and debilitating parasite that is contracted by drinking Guinea worm infected-water. There is no vaccine or drug to prevent the disease, only behavior change through health education. Working with the ministries of health and impacted communities, Guinea worm disease has been reduced by more than 99 percent. In 2016, there were 25 Guinea worm cases in four African countries: South Sudan, Chad, Mali, and Ethiopia.
This archive chronicles the Guinea worm campaign by adding depth to traditional archives through the use of personal stories of the public health workers on the frontlines of the Guinea worm eradication campaign.
The links above connect you to a database of oral histories, photographs, documents, and other media.
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