On February 8, 2017, Mr. Wang Hua, the Deputy Director of  Jiangsu Provincial Health and Family Planning Committee, and Dr. Zhou Xiaonong, the Director of NIPD, attended the  see-off meeting for the experts group working on schistosomiasis control project in Zanzibar in Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, and granted team flag to experts.

    Dr. Zhou analyzed the importance of development projects from the perspective of global health. He pointed out that this is another important assistance in public health after Chinas assistance to Sierra Leone fighting Ebola in 2015. Zanzibars unique geographical environment and schistosomiasis epidemic characteristics, Chinas schistosomiasis control experience and products, the successful model of Chinese Medical Team, and the demand of the people and governments of China and Zanzibar, are the favorable conditions for successful implementation projects in the future. Taking into account the political differences between the two sides, the difference of Schistosoma species in two countries, and the Zanzibar’s medical and public health system is not perfect, the project faces some challenges, especially on how to adapt Chinese schistosomiasis control experience into the context. Dr. Zhou hoped the experts to fully demonstrate the excellence of public health quality, to develop the working spirit and scientific attitude. The experts should fully embody the friendship of "trouble with the common, through thick and thin." between China and Africa.

    Schistosomiasis is a global public health issue prevalent in 78 countries and regions. At least 200 million schistosomiasis patients are in need of drug treatment. Therefore, schistosomiasis prevention and control requires global participation. On 21 May 2014, WHO, the National Health and Family Planning Commission and the Ministry of Health in Zanzibar signed a Memorandum of Understanding document at the 67th World Health Assembly focus on cooperation for the prevention and treatment of schistosomiasis.

    On 10 August 2016, JIPD undertook the three-year project, and six teams of  working groups will be selected for renovation of the office of the Ministry of Health, laboratory and its own resident, to provide the necessary office laboratory equipment and transport; and to carry out schistosomiasis prevention and management training.

    The counterparts in Zanzibar actively coordinated the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water Resources and other departments for participationof the project, and also approved Chinese Technical Group applying the Chinese antisnail and anti-schistosomiasis drugs in the pilot area, and provided office, laboratory space to the Chinese professionals.