Projects

WaterPlus projects are designed to ensure that local populations have safe drinking water and sanitation on a permanent, sustainable basis. Our initial efforts are designed to contribute directly to the Carter Center's ongoing Global Guinea Worm Eradication Program by providing safe, sustainable drinking water to 742 Guinea worm-endemic villages in Ghana, West Africa.

Guinea worm, dracunculiasis,(More information about Guinea worm) is a parasitic disease which is spread by unsanitary water. Although it cripples its victims for months, the encouraging reality is that the Guinea worm problem is imminently solvable - effective, immediate solutions are available today. To date The Carter Center's work has led to a 99.5% reduction in Guinea worm prevalence throughout the world, and the disease will soon be eradicated entirely.

Although eliminated in most of the rest of the world, Guinea worm remains endemic in Ghana. The Carter Center has identified 742 sites in Ghana where Guinea worm continues to be a problem in 2006. The Government of Ghana and the Carter Center are charging ahead with the ongoing Guinea Worm Eradication Program, and welcome the additional support of the international community. WaterPlus has committed to supporting the Global Guinea Worm Eradication Program in Ghana until the disease is eliminated.

Reported during 2005*, Percentage of Cases Contained, and Percentage Change in Cases Compared to the same Reporting Period in 2004
*All 2005 data is provisional
*Numbers in parentheses indicate how many months the country has provided monthly reports in 2005

What is the solution?

The most effective long-term solution to Guinea worm remains safe drinking water in communities which are currently endemic. For a report on the Carter Center's ongoing work with Guinea Worm, please visit the Carter Center's website.

Detailed project proposals are available for many of the 742 villages which The Carter Center has identified as Guinea worm-endemic. The Northern Region of Ghana, where most of these villages are located, provides some special challenges because the region's hydrogeology does not allow for traditional boreholes and handpumps. The amount of groundwater which exists is very difficult to locate and access. Thus the communities currently rely on unsafe drinking water stored throughout the year in microdams. These dams are not maintained and thus are contaminated with the water fleas which transmit Guinea worms from one human host to another.

To solve this problem, WaterPlus projects include new or refurbished catchment basins (microdams) which contain surface runoff water and rainwater throughout the year, including the dry season. Most projects also include a filtration system to ensure the potability of that groundwater. When the villagers gain sustainable access to a safe supply of drinking water, the transmission of Guinea worm will come to a halt in that community. This safe source of drinking water will also benefit surrounding communities and further slow the transmission of the parasite. This solution has been shown to be effective in other Guinea worm-endemic communities and countries throughout the world.

WaterPlus is currently seeking funding for two such projects, in the districts of East Gonja and Tolon-Kumbugu. Each project, for which detailed plans are available, includes:

The East Gonja project will serve 5,950 people in the villages of Kpalbe, Jinloo Yepala, Kushini, Jarayili, Gburimani and Tibugu by rehabilitating two dams (Kpalbe and Gburimani) in the Northern Region of Ghana.

The Tolon - Kumbugu project will rehabilitate one larger dam, serving 9,000 people in the villages of Chirifoyili, Nyorinayili, Kpaniyili, Tali Botinli, Dalinbili, Jaguroyili, Koblimahagu, Tuzeenayili, Tindan, Apeleyili, Kapalnaavili, Toroyili, Nyohindaayili, Zoonaayili-Wayamba.