Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter revealed that cancer has spread to his brain in August. He also outlined a short list of accomplishments left to achieve in a life full of humanitarian service and leadership.
“I would like to see Guinea worm completely eradicated before I die,” Carter said. “I’d like for the last Guinea worm to die before I do.”
The founder of the Carter Center is well on his way to seeing it done with the help of public health workers and organizations around the world. They’ve sprayed ponds with insecticide, helped communities access water filters and isolated infected individuals to prevent the worm’s offspring from finding new watery nurseries. They’ve studied the worm to understand its weaknesses and learned how to attack them. The results are among the most dramatic in the history of public health.
About the author
Michael Igoe@AlterIgoe
Michael Igoe is a Senior Reporter with Devex, based in Washington, D.C. He covers U.S. foreign aid, global health, climate change, and development finance. Prior to joining Devex, Michael researched water management and climate change adaptation in post-Soviet Central Asia, where he also wrote for EurasiaNet. Michael earned his bachelor's degree from Bowdoin College, where he majored in Russian, and his master’s degree from the University of Montana, where he studied international conservation and development.
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