The Savelugu-Nanton District in the Northern Region about 700km north of Accra has been rated the first in the country with Guinea worm cases. Sixty percent of recorded cases are children under 15 years. This was made known during the visit of a former American President, Jimmy Carter to some Trachoma and guinea worm endemic communities in the Tolon-Kumbungu and Savelugu-Nanton districts. Mr. Carter was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Rosalynn, the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, the Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris and Miss Ghana 2005 Lamisi Mbilla. Mr. Carter interacted with Guinea worm infested persons at the Savelugu Hospital and also inspected the Savelugu Dam, which is the source of drinking water in the town. He expressed concern about the effect of the disease on children, saying it does not only prevent them from attending school, but also inflicts pain on them. Mr. Carter was hopeful that the disease will soon be eradicated from the country, because, the first time he visited the country, almost the whole country was infected with it. He said now that the disease is only found in the Northern region, it would be eradicated in the shortest possible time. Mr. Carter therefore called on the people to always ensure that, their water is filtered before drinking. The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, expressed appreciation for the effort of the Carter Centre, towards the fight against the disease. He pledged government's support and the collaboration of traditional authorities to rid the region of the disease.