Water and health

Guinea worm eradication, Ghana

Dracunculiasis or guinea worm disease is a neglected disease caused by the parasitic worm Dracunculus medinensis. The disease causes dreadful suffering and disability among the world’s most deprived people. Currently there are no drugs available to cure this infection. However, guinea worm disease is relatively easy to combat because of the exclusive relation with unsafe drinking water. Eradication efforts have proved successful, the global incidence decreased dramatically. Ghana is one of the five countries were guinea worm disease is still endemic. There are numerous eradication initiatives, for example the building of water purification systems in dams. Another current effort is to add certain chemicals to drinking water to eradicate the guinea worm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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