Carter arrives on guinea worm eradication programme

Accra, Feb. 3, GNA - Former US President, Jimmy Carter, arrived in Accra on Tuesday as part of a West African tour on a campaign to eradicate guinea worm from the world.

Mr Carter, who was met on arrival by Dr Kweku Afriyie, Minister of Health, would have a field trip to guinea worm endemic areas around Tamale on Wednesday.

The Director-General of the WHO, Dr Lee Jong-Wook and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Kul Gautam would join him.

The Carter Foundation, the WHO and UNICEF are in the forefront of the war against guinea worm, which has seen its incidence slump to a mere one per cent in the world.

Also included on Mr Carter's itinerary are Togo and Mali. Ghana is the most endemic guinea worm country in West Africa and second in the world only to Sudan.