Jimmy Carter

Former US President and Nobel prize winner

What were the top health issues of 2005?

"The continued gap in availability of basic health services between people in rich and poorer countries. This is a result of the weakness of fundamental public health and primary health care systems in developing countries, especially in Africa. That weakness in turn results from inadequate attention and resources. Stronger public health and primary health care systems would provide a platform for delivering routine medical prevention and care as well as for achieving reductions in specific diseases."

What health issues should have received more attention?

• "Disease surveillance and response capacity which is lacking or poor in most countries, but is of global as well as national significance.
• Failure to address malaria better in Africa at grass roots level (use of insecticide-treated nets, DDT, ACT, etc).
• Missed opportunities to address now several other important diseases beyond the "big three" – HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
• Publicize more what some drug companies (e.g. Merck, Pfizer, GSK) are doing to help poor people.
• Dracunculiasis eradication is in its final stage, with less than 15 000 cases remaining in nine African countries, and less than 90% of the cases in Sudan and Ghana. WHO and other international public health leaders should vigorously publicize this achievement so far and urge political and public health leaders in the remaining endemic countries to pay personal attention to their national Guinea Worm Eradication Programs. 2009 is not far away."