At Work Around the World

Cameroon

In 1997, with assistance from The Carter Center, Cameroon became one of the first countries to stop transmission of Guinea worm disease since the campaign began in 1986.

Building Hope

Cameroon represents the plight of many African nations as it struggles to forge a peaceful democracy and build a vibrant economy. Ensuring that there is a healthy work force to support development goals is vital to this effort. Cameroon successfully stopped transmission of Guinea worm disease in 1997, becoming one of eight countries in the world at the forefront of the Guinea worm disease eradication movement.

The River Blindness Foundation began assisting the Ministry of Health to distribute Mectizan® in the early 1990s. The Carter Center assumed the Foundation in 1996. Cameroon and The Carter Center are building hope by fighting disease.

Fighting Disease

Eradicating Guinea Worm

Current Status: Transmission stopped, 1997
Certification of Dracunculiasis Eradication: 2007

Since 1986, the Carter Center's Guinea Worm Eradication Program has led a world coalition fighting to eradicate Guinea worm disease. In 1989, Cameroon began hosting events, today known as National Guinea Worm Days, specifically organized to increase awareness about the disease and promote prevention techniques. In 2007, the World Health Organization certified Cameroon as free of Guinea worm disease. 

Although there is no cure, chemically treating ponds, straining water with a special nylon filter, boiling it, or providing clean water from borehole wells can help prevent the disease. In addition, local regional health care workers and village-based volunteers report cases and educate others about the disease.

The provision of a safe water supply was especially problematic in Kangaleri, the most endemic village in Cameroon. The water table was more than 100 meters below the surface, making drilling a well extremely difficult.

In 1994, a cash reward system was initiated in which 2,000 CFA francs - about USD$4 - were offered for cases reported before the worm emerged. Patients who accepted containment measures until complete emergence of their worms were given 3,000 francs. A prize of 30,000 to 40,000 francs was awarded to any village that successfully contained all cases.

Stopping transmission of Guinea worm disease in Cameroon has meant that thousands of Cameroonians were spared suffering from this painful disease. More children are attending school, and more adults are able to work in their farms. Stopping transmission of Guinea worm in Cameroon has positively affected entire communities.

The Carter Center held a special ceremony in Atlanta in 2000 to honor Cameroon, Senegal, Chad, Yemen, Pakistan, India, and Kenya as having reached a milestone in Guinea worm eradication efforts. These nations were the first among the 20 endemic countries to stop transmission of Guinea worm disease for at least one year. Read "Nations Celebrate Progress Against Guinea Worm" (PDF).

Click here for more information on the Carter Center's Guinea Worm Eradication Program.

Controlling River Blindness

Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is widespread in Cameroon, with an estimated 5.1 million people infected and approximately 62 percent of its population at risk for infection. Nearly 60,000 people are believed to suffer some degree of visual impairment from the disease. Transmitted by the bite of black flies found near fast-flowing rivers, onchocerciasis causes severe itching, eye damage, and sometimes blindness.  The disease can be controlled by the microfilarcidal drug Mectizan®, distributed as an oral dose in mass treatment campaigns once per year. Mectizan is donated by Merck & Co, Inc.

In the early 1990s, the River Blindness Foundation began assisting Cameroon's Ministry of Health to distribute Mectizan in North province. The Carter Center assumed the River Blindness Foundation in 1996.  In addition, The Carter Center River Blindness Program in partnership with the Lions Clubs International Foundation began working in the West province of Cameroon in 1996.  Other nongovernmental organizations are active in the fight against onchocerciasis in Cameroon along with the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control.

In 2006, The Carter Center assisted treatment activities in North and West provinces to provide tablets of Mectizan to 1.5 million people to prevent loss of sight from river blindness. More than 10,500 community-based workers accomplished this tremendous task of treating their neighbors to save sight.

UPDATED AUGUST 2007

To learn more about the Center's work fighting river blindness click here.