The Ministry of Health says the number of villages reporting cases of Guinea worm disease has reduced from 12 to 6 since 2014.

The disease is still affecting people in parts of Eastern Equatoria, Western Bahr al-Ghazal, Warrap, and Lakes states.

Since 2006, the Guinea Worm Eradication program has recorded more than 2000.

The program is funded by the Carter Center and other partners.

“Never has a program with so many challenges achieved so much so rapidly,” said Craig Withers, acting Vice President for Health Program at the Carter Center.

“We are grateful and proud for dedication and progress by the village volunteers, the field officers, program officers, and the technical advisers.”

Mr Craig spoke on Wednesday in Juba at the opening of a two-day workshop about the disease.

At the occasion, the Minister of the Cabinet affairs, Dr Martin Elia, said guinea worm is still affecting people in the remote areas due to limited access to clean drinking water.

Dr Martin says the government will support the program, but he did not specify how to provide access to clean water.

The Carter Center says a majority of guinea worm cases in the world are in South Sudan.