The document summarizes Guinea worm eradication efforts in India. It describes how Guinea worm disease is caused by a parasite and presents symptoms. It provides global case numbers from the 1980s onward, showing a decline from 3.5 million cases worldwide to only 126 cases in 2014. The strategy for eradication in India included case detection and surveillance, case management, vector control through water treatment and filters, provision of safe drinking water, training, and evaluation. Through these efforts, India reduced cases from around 40,000 in 1984 to only 9 cases in 1996, and was certified Guinea worm free by WHO in 2000. Improved access to safe drinking water was key to eradicating the disease.

1. INTRODUCTION
 The adultfemale guinea worm , measuring 60-100 cm
in length, emerges through the skin , usuallylower
limbs causing swelling, ulcerationand discomfort to
the patients .
 Guinea –worm eradicationin India :-
Government of India launchedthe nationalguinea
warm eradicationprogramme (GWEP) in 1983- 84 as a
centrally sponsored scheme on a 50:50 sharing basis
between centre and states with the objective of eradicating
guinea worm disease from the country .
The ministry of rural development , govt. of India , state public
health engineering departments, and the Rajiv
Gandhi nationaldrinkingwater mission (rural water supply )
assisted the programme in provisionand maintenanceof
safe drinking water supplies and conversion of unsafe
drinking water sources , on priority ,in the guinea worm
affected areas.

2. DEFINITION
It is communicabledisease cause by a parasite known as
the dracunculusmedinesis and clinicallycharacterized by
blister ulcer and burning pain.
GLOBAL SCENARIO

3.  During the mid – 1980s there were an estimated
3.5 million case in 20 countries world wide , 16 of
which were in Africa .
 The number of reported cases declinedthroughout
the 1990s to reach 126 in 2014 .
 By the end of 2014 , the annualincidenceof the
disease had decreased by more than 99% compared to the
mid – 1980s .
 Currently , cases due to transmission have been reported
only in 4 endemic countries viz ,had Ethiopia, Mali and
south Sudan .
 Till date WHO has certified 198 countries , territories and
areas (belonging to 186 member states ) as free
of dracunculiasis.
PROGRAMME STRATEGY
1. Guineaworm case detection and
continuous surveillancethrough three active
case search
operations and regular monthly reporting .
2. Guineaworm case management .
3. Vector control by the application of tempehos (50%EC
) in unsafe water sources eight times a year and use of fine
nylon mesh double layered cloth strainers by
the community to filter Cyclops in all the affected villages .

4. 4. Provision and maintenanceof safe drinking water supply or
priority in Guinea worm endemic villages .
5. Trainedmanpower developmentand intensive
health education
6. Concurrent evaluationand operationresearch . 7. NICD
with financialsupport from the world health organization
deployedepidemiological surveillance teams in endemic
states which closely monitored the programme and helped
the district local authorities in effective implementation
of various GWEP operational componentsespecially
surveillanceand Guineaworm case containmentmeasures
.
ACHIEVEMENT
 At the beginning of the programme i.e. in 1984 ,
there were around40,000 Guineaworm cases in
12,840 villages in 89 districts of 7 endemic states

5. 
During 1996 , only 9 guinea worm cases have been recorded
in three villages from Jodhpur (Rajasthan ),
rest of the country continued to remain free
from Guinea worm .
 Banwari lal 25 years old from Jodhpurin Rajasthanwas the
last case in India in 1996 ( lancet 2000 ) .
 “zero” incidence has been maintainsince august
1996 through active surveillanceand intensified monitoring
in the endemic areas .
IN THE MEETING OF WHO IN FEBRUARY 2000 THE INDIA
HAS BEEN CERTIFIED FOR THE ELIMINATIONOF GUINEA
WORM DISEASE AND ON 15TH
FEBRUARY 2001 DECLARED
INDIA AS GUINEA WORM DISEASE FREE”.
CONCLUSION

6.  Guinea worm disease could be eradicated by improving the
qualityof humandrinking water.
 The campaign has helpedto establish village-
based health delivery systems in thousandsof
communities that now have networks of health
personnel and volunteerswho provide health education
and
interventionsto prevent other diseases.
 Incidences of Guinea worm disease have been
reduced from an estimated 3.5 million in 1986 to only 27
in 2020. The disease has been eliminated in 17 countries.
REFERENCE
BOOK:
1.COMMUNITY HEALTH
NURSING (AUTHOR- SRIDHAR
RAO)
2.COMMUNITY HEALTH NURSING
PRACTICE (AUTHOR-S KAMALAM)
3. COMMUNITYHEALTH NURSING-
I (AUTHOR-INDARJIT WALIA)
4. COMMUNITYHEALTH NURSING –
II (AUTHOR-RAVI SAXENA)