Accra, Feb. 7, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday conveyed Ghana's appreciation to former United States President Jimmy Carter for his tremendous contribution and support in the fight to eradicate Guinea worm in the country.

His organisation, the Carter Centre, has since 1989, been working in partnership with the country on the project to eradicate the disease. "Ghana is appreciative of your humanitarian concern," President Kufuor said at the Castle, Osu, when he received President Carter, who is in Ghana on a four-day visit to co-ordinate efforts at Guinea worm eradication.

The number of cases dropped by 98 per cent from 179,556 in 1989 to 3,981 in 2005.

President Kufuor said the Government was anxious to bring down the rate of infection and was therefore fighting it on all fronts. He said not only had potable water supplies in the endemic areas increased from 19 per cent to 51 per cent, but also a vigorous education campaign on the need to filter water was being carried out. In addition, a 40 million-dollar water system was being constructed in the Northern Region, where the disease is most prevalent. He, however, observed that conflicts were a drawback to the drive to stop the Guinea worm infection, as it was difficult to ensure proper surveillance and reporting on the disease in conflict areas. President Kufuor said enabling majority of Ghanaians to have access to good drinking water was part of the legacy he wanted to leave for the nation.

He said he was confident that the number of measures the government had put in place would lead to significant reduction in the number of Guinea worm cases.

Mr Carter said it was important that the country's ministries of Health, Education, Local Government and Agriculture came together to make Guinea worm eradication a top priority agenda.