[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

NIAMEY, 15 June (IRIN) - The Niger health authorities on Thursday launched a week-long campaign against Guinea worm as part of their commitment to eradicate the debilitating parasite by 2009.

The infection is caused by a parasite that can grow to a metre-long worm that painfully exits the body through blisters, usually on the lower leg.

People become infected with Guinea worm by drinking water from ponds contaminated by an immature form of the parasite. Infections increase during the rainy season, currently underway in Niger.

Health Minister Ari Ibrahim launched the government campaign in Dargol, 100 km northwest of the capital Niamey, which reported 98 out of 183 Guinea worm cases, or 53 percent, of last year's national total.

"Niger, like several other African countries, is committed to working to increase efforts to free the world of Guinea worm by 2009," Ibrahim said. "The challenge is to stop transmission of the disease by 2007, enabling eradication by the end of 2009."

The government has adopted a number of strategies to achieve this target, including an information campaign, training of community representatives and health workers, and cleaning of ponds and other potentially contaminated water sources.

But Ider Adamou, the governor of Tillaberi, the administrative centre for Dargol, told IRIN that the region needed access to clean water if Guinea worm is to be eradicated permanently.

"In the 30 districts affected, only 10 have access to clean drinking water - that's only 33 percent," Adamou said.

"The fact that people do not have access to clean drinking water is the main obstacle we face to eradicating Guinea worm," he said.