Neglected No More

The Death of Guinea Worm

Guinea Worm

As told by Michael Nyenhuis, President/CEO, MAP International
Summer 2009

In the village of Lendoukro, the Guinea Worm died. Today, we took part in the celebration.

Guinea Worm is a terrible infection. I probably should not describe it, but here goes anyway: Entering the body through contaminated water, the worm grows up to three feet long as it bores its way through the stomach and other tissue. When it is ready to lay its eggs, the worm needs to return to water so it bores its way out of the body, typically through an arm or a leg. It takes days to make its way out, causing the infected person pain and dangerous infections.

It is like a horror movie, really.

In the early 1990s the government of Cote d'Ivoire realized Guinea worm was a significant problem, especially among children and others in rural villages that lacked access to clean water. The government began a campaign to eradicate the worm from the country. MAP joined the fight 10 years ago and has been a vital player in what has been a successful effort. The last case of Guinea worm was recorded in Sept. 2006. If all goes well, the country will be certified Guinea worm-free in early 2010. It is an amazing thing to rid a country of a disease.

The last case of Guinea worm was in Lendoukro, the village we visited today. It took us six hours on a very bad road (I am generous to call it a road) to get there. This is a remote place; just the kind of place the Guinea worm might make its last stand. With government officials, traditional chiefs, community health workers, and all of the other villagers, we celebrated the success of this great campaign. Our board chairman, Immanuel Thangaraj, was wrapped in a traditional leader's cloth, complete with hat and sandals. So was I.

Meredith Deal, our Rotarian friend, was wrapped, too, in a traditional cloth made from bark. This was a big deal for Meredith. She was the primary force that raised funds from Rotary clubs for a beautiful well and foot pump just up the road from Lendoukro. That well brought clean water for the first time to these villagers who fought the last fight against the Guinea worm.

By focusing on repair and maintenance of pumps, construction of filters and filter systems for small communities, education in prevention measures, pump repair, bio-sand filter usage, and project management, MAP has helped put full eradication of the disease within reach. The last reported incident of Guinea worm Cote d’Ivoire occurred in 2006 when there were only five cases. This is remarkable considering that in 1966 there were more than 67,000 incidents reported in Cote d’Ivoire. We await the WHO announcement in 2010 with great joy.