Sustainability in guinea worm eradication programme

Following an agreement between by Global 2000 of Carter Foundation and the Nigerian Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (NIGEP) was inaugurated in 1988 with the objective of eradicating guinea worm disease from Nigeria by 31 December, 1995. This paper examines strategies and structures established by NIGEP to ensure sustainability of eradication in the post-intervention period. It maintains that without maximum participation and empowerment of endemic communities towards guinea worm eradication, the sustainability of programme objectives in the post-intervention period may be jeopardized. South East Zone is focus for discussing this paper.