Carter Center's Guinea Worm Eradication Program Gets Boost from a Gates Foundation Challenge Grant; Canada and the Hilton Foundation Respond Generously

ACCRA, Ghana -- The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has pledged $25 million to the Carter Center’s fight to eradicate the remaining cases of Guinea worm disease worldwide. The grant includes an initial $5 million contribution and challenges other donors to provide an additional $20 million, of which of the Gates Foundation will match one-to-one. Already, the Canadian International Development Agency and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation have responded to the challenge by pledging $5 million and $1 million, respectively, joining with the Center and the Gates Foundation to help make Guinea worm the first parasitic disease to be eradicated.

To read the full release, visit the Carter Center's Web site.