Guinea worm wrap-up

Representatives of twelve francophone countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, C\uc3\ub4te d\ue2\u20ac\u2122Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo) attended the annual Program Review for French-speaking countries in Dakar, Senegal on April 6th-9th. The Review, which was organized by WHO, and co-sponsored by UNICEF and The Carter Center (Global 2000), had been postponed from late 1998. In addition to reviewing the status of dracunculiasis eradication in the individual countries, the Review included presentations by Mali and Niger on epidemiological surveillance for dracunculiasis among nomadic populations. Also attending, in addition to representatives of the three co-sponsoring agencies, were representatives from OCCGE, The World Bank, Health and Development International, and CERMES. The minister of health of Senegal, His Excellency Assane Diop, opened the meeting officially. A summary of the status of the disease in the countries represented is given below. As a result of the data presented, revised Tables and Figures summarizing the final epidemiological status of dracunculiasis for 1998 are also included in this issue