International Peacemaking and Human Rights Programs - Senegal

Senegal

In 1997, with help from The Carter Center, Senegal made history by becoming one of the first eight nations to eradicate Guinea worm disease, a painful and debilitating affliction.

Building Hope

As a nation, Senegal has existed relatively peacefully despite unrest and violence in its southern Casamance region. In 2000, the Senegalese impressed the world as Senegal maintained order despite the end of the Socialist Party's 40-year political dominance. Senegal understands the link between a healthy population and a healthy democracy. For this reason, the nation invited The Carter Center to assist it in eradicating Guinea worm disease. Together, The Carter Center and Senegal made history by bringing the nation to the forefront of a global disease eradication movement.

Fighting Disease

Eradicating Guinea Worm Disease

Current Status: Transmission stopped, 1997
Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication: 2004

In 1986, the Carter Center's Guinea Worm Eradication Program began its work against the disease, and today, it spearheads the international eradication campaign with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, ministries of health, and many other partners. In 1992, The Carter Center began providing financial and technical assistance to the Ministry of Health in Senegal. Through these efforts, Senegal stopped transmission of Guinea worm disease in 1997 and was officially certified by the WHO as Guinea worm-free in 2004.

With many nations on the verge of elimination, Guinea worm is projected to be the next disease, after smallpox, to be eradicated from the Earth. Unlike smallpox, Guinea worm disease has no vaccine or treatment. Eradication efforts must therefore be largely dependent on education and preventative measures.

Approaches introduced in local communities included: health education; distribution of nylon filters to strain out water fleas that host the infected larvae; safe, monthly ABATE® larvicide treatments in stagnant ponds, donated by the BASF Corporation; direct advocacy with water organizations; and increased efforts to build safer hand-dug wells. Village volunteers, who are trained, supplied, and supervised by the program, carry out monthly surveillance and interventions.
The Senegalese government's attention to eradicating Guinea worm disease helped accelerate and intensify eradication activities leading to Senegal's overall success in stopping transmission. Although Guinea worm was a minor health problem in the country, the government never relented in its efforts to stop Guinea worm permanently.
The Carter Center held a special ceremony in Atlanta in 2000 to honor Senegal, Chad, Pakistan, Cameroon, Yemen, India, and Kenya as having reached a milestone in Guinea worm eradication efforts. These nations were the first among 20 endemic countries to stop transmission of Guinea worm disease for at least one year.

Read more about the eradication of Guinea worm disease in Senegal (PDF).

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