Today we join the nation in remembering the life and legacy of President Jimmy Carter. As health care providers, we rank President Carter’s leadership in global health as one of his biggest achievements.
President Carter’s quest to eradicate Guinea worm disease is one of the world’s most successful public health campaigns. When the Carter Center launched its program in 1986, the devastating parasitic disease touched about 3.5 million people, primarily in Africa and Asia. Only 14 cases were reported in 2023, marking a 99.99% global reduction.
Using his signature grassroots approach, President Carter and his team worked closely with local communities. They provided medical care and helped people work together to sustain the challenging effort to prevent the parasite from spreading. The tireless effort included President Carter’s negotiation of the 1995 “Guinea worm cease-fire.” The pause in fighting allowed health workers to access areas of Sudan that were previously cut off.
Guinea worm is just one of President Carter and the Carter Center’s health initiatives. Their ongoing work focuses on fighting five other neglected tropical diseases caused by bacteria and parasites.
Jimmy Carter’s approach to global health was based on his belief that persistent, collaborative effort and compassion can create lasting change. His example and lasting influence stand out for all of us at The Oregon Clinic.
“We believe access to health care is a human right, especially among poor people afflicted with disease who are forgotten, ignored, and often without hope. Just to know that someone cares about them not only can ease their physical pain but also remove an element of alienation and anger that can lead to hatred and violence.”
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter
Learn more about the Carter Center’s health initiatives at cartercenter.org