Jimmy Carter's Fight Against Guinea Worm Approaches Victory

[onehandle]

Source: AP, Huffington Post

ABUYONG, Sudan — Lily pads and purple flowers dot one corner of the watering hole. Bright green algae covers another. Two women collect water in plastic jugs while a cattle herder bathes nearby. Samuel Makoy is not interested in the bucolic scenery, though. He has an epidemic to quash. Makoy points out to the women the fingernail-length worm-like creatures whose tails flick back and forth. Then a pond-side health lesson begins on a spaghetti-like worm that has haunted humans for centuries.

This fight against the guinea worm is a battle former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has waged for more than two decades in some of the poorest countries on earth. It is a battle he's almost won. In the 1950s the 3-foot-long guinea worm ravaged the bodies of an estimated 50 million people, forcing victims through months of pain while the worm exited through a swollen blister on the leg, making it impossible for them to tend to cows or harvest crops. By 1986, the number dropped to 3.5 million. Last year only 3,190 cases were reported.

Today the worm is even closer to being wiped out. Fewer than 1,700 cases have been found this year in only four countries – Ethiopia, Ghana, Mali and Sudan, where more than 95 percent of the cases are. The worm's near-eradication is thanks in large part to the efforts of Carter and his foundation. "I'm still determined to outlive the last guinea worm," Carter told The Associated Press in a phone interview. The 86-year-old set that goal in the 1980s, when his center helped eliminate guinea worm from Pakistan and other Asian nations.

The Carter Center has battled the worm for 24 years through education and the distribution of strainers that purify drinking water. It has helped erase guinea worm in more than 20 countries, and it believes the worm will follow smallpox – which was wiped out in the late 1970s – as the next disease to be eradicated from the human population.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/25/jimmy-carter-guinea-worm_n_801252.html

[Angry Dragon]

1. A good man

[xchrom]

2. gotta love that jimmy carter, nt.

[UpInArms]

3. a noble goal and a breathtaking attempt

one man's dream of a better world for everyone.

wish there were more just like him.

[shanti]

4. what an awesome man!

i respect him so for addressing this issue. he has eliminated suffering for so many.

[lunatica]

5. Teabaggers will find this intolerable somehow

But they'll wait for Beck and FOX to tell them why.

[sammythecat]

7. Ha

So true.

[pitohui]

6. well done, president carter!!!

by comparison what did saint ronnie do in his retirement? make some high paying ads for japanese teevee?

i guess that isn't fair, since reagan was ill...but it's amazing just how much carter has done w. his life to change the world and how little appreciation he gets for it...surely he's one of the greats

[donquijoterocket]

12. too

It's always been my take that as President Mr. Carter was too ethical and too intelligent for the country he was trying to lead.His actions since have, I think, proven me correct.It's that intelligence which grates on wingnuts so hard.

[classof56]

18. Good assessment.

I have fundie relatives who maintain to this day that Carter "ruined the country" when he was president. Sure glad that man of faith bush came along to put everything right. :eyes:

To me, President Carter epitomizes JFK's statement that God's work must truly be our own.

Blessings to you, Mr. President! You are a blessing to all of us.

[greiner3]

8. But, but;

Fox News says he is the devil incarnate.

[treestar]

9. REally good news!

Thanks you for posting it.

[lepus]

10. Here's to the elimination of a pestilance.

This worm has been a problem for mankind since time immemorial.

There are thoughts that the caudacious, the symbol of medicine, originated from the traditional treatment of the worm.

Jimmy is getting a bit old. I hope people pitch in and allow his dream of outliving this species to come true.

[theophilus]

11. Gee, wouldn't it be nice if our whole cheezy country would go about

doing good like Mr. Carter? I'll wager we would win a lot more hearts and minds than we do by blowing things up. Our priorities, for the most part, have been screwed up-to say the least. Praise and appreciation for Mr. Carter should be on everyone's lips. He truly chooses LIFE!

[Michigan-Arizona]

15. Thank you for putting it so well into words what I wanted to say n/t

[stevedeshazer]

13. I can't think of one single Republican who has promoted any program to advance humanity.

That's really sad.

Bravo, Mr. President.

[Odin2005]

14. K&R

[Retrograde]

16. Best ex-president ever!

With the possible exception of John Q. Adams. Carter gives Christians a good name.

I've read about guinea worms: they're too appalling to even think about, much less actually witness.

[Lucinda]

21. Agree...on all counts. I say this about him often.

:hi:

[1American]

17. Jimmy!

I suppose the tea pot-heads will call his efforts as "socialism" or "communism" or "liberalism" or some offensive "ism". The fact that his campaign benefits a black population will cause the baggers to have hissy-fits! They won't admit to their racism, but that is the nature of that disgusting group.

[struggle4progress]

19. Carter Center Health Programs

http://www.cartercenter.org/health/index.html

[mistertrickster]

20. Meanwhile, this just in: George W. Bush continues to play golf. nt.

[skepticscott]

29. Drunk

[No Elephants]

22. The more I learn about Jimmeh, the more I admire and respect him.

[MJJP21]

23. One man

making a difference. Thats how it's done.

[suffragette]

24. In it for the long term

My admiration for Carter keeps growing over the years.

[mdmc]

25. JIMMY!

[NobleCynic]

26. Xenocide and extinction can be good things.

Hopefully he does outlive the worm.

[tabasco]

27. God bless you, President Carter!

You are the finest man to be President in my lifetime.

[paulkienitz]

28. guinea worms are super revolting, so this is great news

[kath]

30. The Carter Center is a great organization! We've been donating to them for the past 5-10 years.

If you've got a little to spare, think of adding them to your charity list.
They do awesome work. They are a pioneer in the field of election observation (appallingly, US elections don't even come CLOSE to meeting their standards).
Their Peace Programs include: Democracy Program, Human Rights Program, Conflict Resolution Program, Americas Program, China Program.

Their health programs include: Guinea worm eradication, trachoma control, river blindness, schistosomiasis control, lymphatic filariasis elimination, Ethiopia public health training initiative, agriculture, malaria control, mental health, International Task force for disease eradication.

From their website:

Ultimately, the work of The Carter Center is about helping people achieve better opportunities and watching hope take root where it languished before."—Jimmy Carter

The Carter Center, in partnership with Emory University, is guided by a fundamental commitment to human rights and the alleviation of human suffering; it seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.

While the program agenda may change, The Carter Center is guided by five principles:


1. The Center emphasizes action and results. Based on careful research and analysis, it is prepared to take timely action on important and pressing issues.

2. The Center does not duplicate the effective efforts of others.

3. The Center addresses difficult problems and recognizes the possibility of failure as an acceptable risk.

4. The Center is nonpartisan and acts as a neutral in dispute resolution activities.

5. The Center believes that people can improve their lives when provided with the necessary skills, knowledge, and access to resources.

The Carter Center collaborates with other organizations, public or private, in carrying out its mission.

http://www.cartercenter.org/index.html
{re-post from another thread on the same topic}

[gtar100]

31. Awesome!

My favorite president in my lifetime to date. Only wish I was old enough to vote for him against reagan at the time. But America wasn't ready for him and just wanted to party. Too much integrity in that man for the investor class to bear.

[Major Hogwash]

32. Wow, this is good news.

Incredible story.

[burrowowl]

33. Jimmy Carter

A GOOD MAN!

[eridani]

34. No one comes even close for accomplishments since leaving office n/t

[RedCloud]

35. Those aren't worms. They are republican larvae.

[ZombieHorde]

36. Recommended, but I have to say I hate news stories which begin on the second paragraph. nt

[BigBluenoser]

37. Add it to the extinction rolls...

It "picked" the wrong host back in the day. Humans are this species only host, so once the last patient is cured, the GW is forever gone. As in extinct.

Can't say I'm too concerned about the vile little blighters, but it is neat to see DU cheering for an animal to become extinct!