12 February 2007 - PANA. For African nations to be able to eradicate most of the diseases endemic within the continent, alliances must be created between the health and education ministries, former US President Jimmy Carter suggested here Monday.Where relationships have been developed between health care providers and education institutions, Carter said there has been progress in the fight against diseases that cause unnecessary suffering to children.Speaking at the opening of a two-day conference on 'Ethiopia Public Health Training Initiative' (EPHTI), Carter emphasised hygiene education as key to elimination of communicable diseases."Trachoma is concentrated in Amhara region of Ethiopia. Filthy hands spread this disease, particularly when children don't wash away flies that surround their eyes. Eventually the eyes get infected and cause blindness," he said.
 
In addition, Carter said that ten zones of Ethiopia were endemic with river blindness (Onchocerciasis), which is caused by a parasitic worm and transmitted by blackflies."The teaching of cleanliness and the supervision of basic washing is a very important element to keep children safe from infection with parasitic worms," said Carter whose Atlanta, Georgia-based charity -- The Crater Center -- partners in EPHTI. EPHTI, a partnership among the Ethiopian government, The Carter Center, several NGOs and seven Ethiopian universities, works to improve the quality of pre-service training to health science professionals.Started in 1997, the initiative has translated into improved health care delivery for nearly 75 million rural Ethiopians.It also provides the opportunity for experienced international health personnel to work side-by-side with Ethiopian teaching staff to train health care workers and develop teaching materials based on Ethiopian experience.
 
Participants of the conference include education ministers from some of the African countries where The Carter Center assists governments in fighting parasitic diseases including guinea worm and malaria."We have only addressed diseases not commonly known, but the primary victims of these diseases are children. Trachoma and Onchocerciasis cause unnecessary suffering to children," Carter noted, urging the African ministers at the conference to explore ways by which they could replicate the Ethiopian initiative in their own countries. "Close alliance must be created between health and education ministries," he emphasised."In trachoma regions flies are a problem. Teach people how to build a simple latrine with local materials. What causes the eruption of the fly population is relieving oneself -- defecation and urination of human beings in open spaces on the ground."I used to be known as President of the United States or someone who negotiated peace between Israel and Egypt, and now [I am] known as the number one latrine builder in the world," Carter said amid applause from the audience in appreciation of his work to promote the peoples' welfare in poor countries.