[See the original post on USAID’s Medium]

For decades, late President Jimmy Carter, alongside his wife, Rosalynn Carter — who died in November 2023 — dedicated themselves to advancing human rights, strengthening democracy, building peace, and alleviating human suffering. USAID remembers his legacy, especially his herculean efforts to end a set of little known diseases called neglected tropical diseases (NTDs).

NTDs are diseases of inequity. They afflict more than 1.5 billion people. They cause tremendous suffering. Many can be prevented at low cost. But for years, they have gone unaddressed. Many linger in areas without enough resources for basic health or clean water.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter addresses Ghanaian children outside Savelugu Hospital. People sit and stand around him in a crowd. He asks the question “Who here has had Guinea worm disease?” Many hands are raised.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter addresses Ghanaian children outside Savelugu Hospital, asking “Who here has had Guinea worm disease?” Amid the scorching heat of peak dry season, President Carter visited the parched community of Savelugu to meet with dozens of Guinea worm disease victims in an effort to bring global attention to Ghana’s growing Guinea worm epidemic caused by inadequate water supply in the country. / The Carter Center

Taking on the “Fiery Serpent”

Inhis post-presidential years, President Carter was drawn to end a particularly nightmarish NTD called dracunculiasis, or Guinea worm disease, caused by the parasite Dracunculus medinensis.

Nicknamed the “fiery serpent,” the disease can cause blisters and painful burning sensations. The worms can grow several feet in length before exiting the body through the skin. Historically, many people living with or at-risk of Guinea worm disease had little understanding of how to prevent infections, or limited access to health services and treatments that could help rid them of these parasites.

In 1986 — to tackle the “serpent” — the Carters’ nonprofit organization, the Carter Center, initiated an international campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease. There were an estimated 3.5 million annual cases of Guinea worm disease across 21 countries at that time.

Fast forward to today and President Carter’s efforts have paid off. Following decades of efforts to end Guinea worm by many governments, partners, and donors, at the conclusion of 2023 there were only 14 human cases recorded in five countries. USAID provided $3.5 million from 1994–1999 to support global Guinea worm disease elimination efforts.

Official President Carter appears next to his quote: “USAID has been a special partner in the Carter Center’s work to fight [Neglected Tropical Diseases] in Africa and especially to eliminate river blindness in the Americas.”
Photo credit: The Carter Center

Expanding His Efforts, Inspired Others

Nearly putting an end to Guinea worm is just one of President Carter’s legacies. His passion for improved health and well-being for all led his organization to tackle additional NTDs. It also inspired many other partners and donors to invest time and resources to ending other diseases of poverty.

USAID has supported the Carter Center’s Onchocerciasis Elimination Program of the Americas (OEPA) since 2012. Onchocerciasis, more commonly known as river blindness, is caused by tiny parasites carried by flies that are located near fast-moving rivers. Once in the body, infection can cause relentlessly itchy skin, impaired eyesight, and even blindness.

With the support of OEPA, health officials in multiple countries successfully conducted regular community-wide campaigns to administer the antiparasitic medicine ivermectin to children and adults in an effort to stop transmission of the disease.

Today, the Carters’ dream to eliminate river blindness is nearly achieved in Latin America. Four countries have successfully eliminated the disease: Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Guatemala. Only one particularly stubborn area on the border between Brazil and Venezuela remains.

Ushering in a Bright Future

USAID’s work to control and eliminate other NTDs continues with the Carter Center as well as dozens of other partners. Through support to countries across Africa, ministries of health are carrying out successful programs to eliminate and control other NTDs such as: trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, and schistosomiasis.

Coalitions of partners and donors — including the Carter Center and USAID — are continuing to see rapid progress, such as:

1) An incredible achievement by the Government of Nigeria where 18 million people no longer require treatment for river blindness; and

2) A milestone announced by the Government of Uganda that — for the first time ever — there is no longer active, ongoing transmission of river blindness.

These achievements are due to the relentless efforts of governments to fight back against preventable diseases like NTDs. But credit is also shared with dozens of donors and partners like the Carter Center.

USAID is honored to have worked alongside the late President, his wife, and the staff of the Carter Center. His tenacity and passion for people’s well-being has made an indelible impact. He will be remembered for ushering in a bright future that will one day be free of NTDs.