The Guinea Worm Eradication Effort: Lessons for the Future
1998
Guinea Worm Eradication Campaign and Its Lessons
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Donald R. Hopkins
Primary Institution: The Carter Center
Hypothesis
The Guinea worm eradication campaign can inform efforts to control other emerging infectious diseases.
Conclusion
The campaign has successfully reduced Guinea worm disease through health education and local volunteer involvement.
Supporting Evidence
- The campaign has shown the effectiveness of health education in changing behavior.
- Local volunteers have played a crucial role in reporting and treating infections.
- The economic return on investment for eradicating Guinea worm disease is estimated at 29% per year.
- Surveillance data has been used to promote health policy effectively.
Takeaway
The Guinea worm campaign taught people how to avoid getting sick and showed that local volunteers can help a lot in fighting diseases.
Methodology
The campaign used health education, safe drinking water initiatives, and local volunteer reporting.
Limitations
Underreporting of cases has been a significant issue in tracking the disease's prevalence.
Participant Demographics
Primarily adults in disease-endemic villages in Africa and parts of Asia.
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website