Yemen

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

How It Started

Yemen’s Guinea Worm Eradication Program was created in 1995 in response to a modern-day resurgence of the ancient disease.

Our Work and Methods

The Carter Center and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided technical support that included:

• House-to-house and marketplace searches to detect cases
• Distribution of health education materials
• Distribution of water filters
• Treatment of contaminated water sources

Village volunteers, trained and supervised by the program, carried out monthly surveillance and interventions.

Impacts

Yemen stopped transmission of Guinea worm disease in 1997, and in 2004, the World Health Organization certified the nation as Guinea worm-free.

How It Started

In 1998, trachoma was the third-leading cause of blindness in Yemen and was prevalent among about 12% of all children younger than 5. The Carter Center began applying lessons learned from its Guinea Worm Eradication Program to help Yemen and partner organizations control the infection.

Our Work and Methods

The program focused on:

• Health education to promote better hygiene
• Improvements in environmental sanitation
• Distribution of antibiotics in endemic communities, coordinated with surgery performed by partner organizations

Impacts

Despite budgetary constraints and low government health coverage, along with a lack of recognition of blindness as a health priority, The Carter Center helped promote health and hygiene improvements to control infection.

The project ended in 2003.