Former President Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100, leaving behind a lasting legacy in public health. Carter, the 39th President of the United States, died in his hometown of Plains, Georgia. Throughout his life, he made significant contributions to global health and infectious disease, impacting lives around the world for the better.
In a statement, President Joe Biden praised Carter as a dear friend and a man of great character, courage, hope, and optimism. He highlighted Carter’s efforts to eradicate disease, promote peace, advance civil rights and human rights, and advocate for the most vulnerable in society. Carter’s work with organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center has been instrumental in addressing neglected tropical diseases and improving health outcomes in impoverished areas.
Despite facing health challenges in recent years, including a diagnosis of metastatic melanoma and a fractured pelvis, Carter remained resilient and continued his philanthropic efforts. His wife, Rosalynn Carter, passed away in November 2023, marking the end of the longest presidential marriage in U.S. history.
Carter’s dedication to public health and humanitarian causes has left a lasting impact, inspiring others to address global health disparities and work towards a healthier, more equitable world.
“Neglected tropical diseases are often overlooked, but they cause immense suffering for people worldwide,” he informed Healthline.
The Carter Center remains dedicated to the fight against neglected tropical diseases, aiming for their complete eradication. The organization’s top priorities are:
1. Guinea worm disease
2. River blindness (onchocerciasis)
3. Trachoma
4. Lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis)
5. Schistosomiasis
6. Malaria
Neglected tropical diseases pose significant challenges for treatment due to their prevalence in impoverished and remote areas. These diseases are often chronic and debilitating, yet not always fatal, which can result in limited funding and resources for their treatment, as noted by Hotez.
River blindness is caused by parasitic worms transmitted through infected blackflies, leading to blindness and other complications. Schistosomiasis, caused by blood flukes, is a debilitating disease affecting the liver and intestines.
Former President Jimmy Carter’s efforts to eradicate Guinea worm disease have been particularly noteworthy. By the late 1980s, the number of cases had decreased significantly, largely due to Carter’s tireless work. In 1995, amid the Second Sudanese Civil War, Carter negotiated a humanitarian cease-fire to combat the disease, distributing water filters and providing education on prevention.
Carter’s global health legacy remains strong, with his commitment to eradicating Guinea worm disease and improving health outcomes for communities worldwide.”
“In the infectious disease world, and particularly among those interested in global medicine and tropical diseases, Jimmy Carter is held in a reverential fashion,” said Schaffner. Hotez told Healthline that Carter’s work and legacy represent “a life well lived.” Despite this, Hotez chooses to remember Carter as a humble American who remained connected to his roots: “Before I lived in the South, when we were standing in the breakfast buffet line together, I didn’t know what cheesy grits were, so he gave me a lesson in how to make cheesy grits. I don’t think of President Carter, I think of cheesy grits.”
