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Adam Weiss, MPH Director of Guinea Worm Eradication Program
Some of the hallmarks of the four-year Guinea worm eradication campaign, led by the Carter Center, are its agility, data-driven decision-making, deep-rooted partnerships and commitment to prioritizing the needs of endemic countries.
With a historic announcement of only 15 human cases as a new normal is established in the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a small chance to assemble and reinvigorate the global Guinea worm team. When we called, the people who knew the last mile challenge best answered the call.
The Carter Center and the Crown Prince Court of the United Arab Emirates leveraged their vast combined reach to quickly bring together affected countries and partners in March 2022 to respond to Abu Dhabi Guinea Worm Summit. The summit resulted in important discussions, signed declarations, renewed dynamism and tangible action to accelerate efforts to eradicate this age-old disease.
High-level representatives from Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, South Sudan and Sudan reaffirmed their commitment Accelerate progress by signing the Abu Dhabi Declaration on the Eradication of Guinea Worm Disease. At Qasr Al Watan, UAE Presidential Palace, Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, signed the declaration in solidarity; Jason Carter, Chairman of the Carter Center Board of Directors; and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.
The summit celebrates the success of the global movement to date and highlights through an original video that even the toughest of people can be inspired.I invite you see for yourself.
Many summit attendees are meeting their peers face-to-face for the first time since the pandemic began, updating old alliances. It creates momentum and re-energizes the Guinea Worm team and our many partners, strengthens relationships, and creates opportunities to forge new connections to tackle neglected tropical diseases.
The UAE remains a steadfast partner of the programme’s third-largest donor, committed to taking eradication efforts to the end. In addition, the UAE’s central location in African tourism, its positive response to COVID-19 and its openness to international business travel during the hosting of the Expo, its role as an independent regional power broker, and its commitment to global health make the UAE an ideal convening partner for the summit.
Attendees included Paige Alexander, CEO of the Carter Center; Dr. Kashef Ijaz, Vice President, Carter Center Health Programs; Her Royal Highness Princess Ramia bint Majid Al Saud, Secretary General of Alwaleed Charities, Saudi Arabia; Faustina Fynn-Nyame, located in London-based Children’s Investment Fund Foundation Africa Executive Director; Simon Bland, CEO of the Global Institute for Disease Elimination (GLIDE) in Abu Dhabi; Shaista Asif, Chief Operating Officer of Pure Health, a new partner at the Carter Center in the UAE; and Bill and Representatives of the Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF.
The summit provided an important opportunity for coalition members to learn from and inspire each other after long periods of being alone — and they have done so successfully, remaining at least 90% operational throughout the pandemic. But these personal interactions are critical.
Crown Prince of the United Arab Emirates (current President) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi receives Jason Carter and his eldest son HenryLet the traditional court council recognize Over 30 years of partnershipA multi-generational commitment to eradicating the Guinea worm began with the father of the Crown Prince, the grandfather of UAE founders Sheikh Zayed and Jason Carter, and former US President Jimmy Carter. I attended a meeting with Paige Alexander and Dr. Kashef Ijaz.
That’s one of the unique things about the Carter Center – bringing people together. That’s what President Carter wants the Carter Center to do from 40 years ago, which has translated into a global eradication campaign that builds consensus around issues that affect people in the most marginalized areas. Combine that with the appeal of the UAE and the energy of partner countries and organisations and you have a powerful force for good.
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