Guinea Worm Disease Case Study

Dracunculiasis, also known as guinea worm disease is one of the leading risk for infection in Africa and Asia (CDC, 2002). In this case study, it discusses the eradication efforts to eliminate the disease in parts of Asia and sub-Saraharan Africa. The cause of guinea worm is from drinking unsanitary water from a well or pond that is polluted with copepods that carry guinea worm larvae (CDC, 2002). The eradication of the guinea worm disease started in the 1980 with a campaign started by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Hopkins, 1998). The possibility of having the New Guinea worm disease be eradicated could be easy if only some parts of the edemic areas were expose to the eradication program. According to Dr. Hopkins, reducing the presence of the disease by 97% over the past decade is a great achievement even before achieving full eradication of the diease (1998). Some issues that prevent the eradication efforts is inadequate security, lack of data and funding, and commitment. Control over the NGW disease is enough to cause a change within the edemic areas of Asia or sub-Saharan Asia. By implementing actions such as filters for clean and safe water …show more content…
Successful behavior change leads to a success campaign. Some essential elements that lead to a successful program includes planning, budgeting, community outreach, training, and organization of health services. In the case study, it evaluates behavior change as an essential component of the public health campaign. Behavorial change worked with the New Guinea worm control because it required people to do something. Convincing people to take steps to a healthier lifestyle had motivated them to make the eradication successful. With this method, there is not a better way to achieve control over the NGW disease. Promoting health through out Asia and sub-Saharan Africa had motivated people to volunteer and work towards cleaner