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.