UGANDA’S SUCCESSFUL GUINEA WORM ERADICATION PROGRAM

JOHN B. RWAKIMARI Ministry of Health, Entebbe, Uganda; The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia

Search for other papers by JOHN B. RWAKIMARI in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
DONALD R. HOPKINS Ministry of Health, Entebbe, Uganda; The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia

Search for other papers by DONALD R. HOPKINS in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
ERNESTO RUIZ-TIBEN Ministry of Health, Entebbe, Uganda; The Carter Center, Atlanta, Georgia

Search for other papers by ERNESTO RUIZ-TIBEN in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2006.75.3
Volume/Issue:
Volume 75: Issue 1
Page(s):
3–8
Restricted access
Get Permissions

Having begun its national Guinea Worm Eradication Program (UGWEP) in 1991 (1991 population, 16.6 million) with the third-highest number of cases reported by any endemic country, and ranked as the second-highest endemic country in the world in 1993, by 2004, Uganda celebrated its first full calendar year with no indigenous cases of the disease. Systematic interventions began in 1992 and were gradually intensified until the final indigenous case occurred in July 2003. The favorable concentration of most cases in relatively few northern districts of the country was partly offset by chronic insecurity in much of the endemic area and by repeated importations of cases from neighboring Sudan. Strong support and dedicated leadership by government officials and external partners were keys to this program’s dramatic success. This program cost approximately US$5.6 million.

Copyright:
Copyright 2006 The American Society of Tropical Medicine 2006
Received:
02 Feb 2006
|
Accepted:
10 Mar 2006
|
Published Online:
Jul 2006
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
  • 1

    Hopkins DR, Ruiz-Tiben E, 1991. Strategies for eradication of dracunculiasis. Bull World Health Organ 69 :533–540.

  • 2

    Bamundaga DA, 1934. A case of Guinea worm. E Afr Med J 11 :292.

  • 3

    Bradley DJ, 1968. Disease Map of Uganda. Entebbe: Ministry of Health.

  • 4

    World Health Organization, 1984. Dracunculiasis surveillance: Uganda. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 59 :69–71.

  • 5

    Bukenya G, 1987. A survey of dracunculiasis in Chua County, Kitgum District of Uganda. E Afr Med J 64 :102–107.

  • 6

    Henderson PL, Fontaine RE, Kyeyune G, 1988. Guinea worm disease in northern Uganda: a major public health problem controllable through an effective water program. Int J Epidemiol 17 :434–440.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 7

    World Health Organization, 1993. Dracunculiasis eradication. Update: 1992, Uganda. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 68 :81–83.

  • 8

    World Health Organization, 1995. Dracunculiasis eradication. Update; 1993–1994, Uganda. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 70 :161–162.

  • 9

    Dodge CP, Weibe PD, eds., 1985. Crisis in Uganda: The Breakdown of Health Services. New York: Pergamon Press.

  • 10

    Hopkins DR, Ruiz-Tiben E, Downs P, Withers PC Jr, Maguire JH, 2005. Dracunculiasis eradication: the final inch. Am J Trop Med Hyg 73 :669–675.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 11

    Johnson DH, 2003. The Root Causes of Sudan’s Civil Wars. Indianapolis, IN: Indiana University Press.

  • 12

    World Health Organization, 1973. Safe Use of Pesticides. Twentieth Report of WHO Expert Committee on Insecticides. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.

Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 11 11 4
Full Text Views 343 75 0
PDF Downloads 132 21 0
 
Membership Banner
 
 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save