National Guinea worm Eradication Programme was launched in
**Core Concept**
The National Guinea worm Eradication Programme is a public health initiative aimed at eradicating Dracunculus medinensis, a parasitic nematode causing Guinea worm disease. This disease is transmitted through contaminated water, where copepods (water fleas) ingest the larvae, and humans become infected by drinking water harboring these copepods.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The Programme was launched in 1986 by the World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and UNICEF. The goal was to eliminate the disease through a multi-faceted approach, including surveillance, education, and water treatment. The Programme focused on promoting safe drinking water, proper water treatment, and avoiding contact with contaminated water to prevent the transmission of the parasite.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** Incorrect because the Programme was not launched in the early 20th century. While efforts to control the disease date back to 1900s, the modern eradication Programme began in the late 20th century.
**Option B:** Incorrect because the Programme was not launched in the 1950s. Although the first large-scale efforts to control the disease occurred in the 1940s and 1950s, the modern eradication Programme started decades later.
**Option C:** Incorrect because the Programme was not launched in the 1970s. While the 1970s saw some efforts to control the disease, the modern eradication Programme was launched in the 1980s.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The Guinea worm disease is one of the oldest known diseases, with evidence of its existence dating back to ancient civilizations. The disease has been largely eradicated, but it still occurs in some parts of Africa and Asia, highlighting the importance of continued public health efforts to eliminate this parasitic infection.
**Correct Answer:** C. 1986