In the framework of on-going World Health Assembly in Geneva, on 21 May 2014, the National Health and Family Planning Commission People's Republic of China (NHFPC) and the Ministry of Health of Zanzibar signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement a programme to eliminate schistosomiasis from Zanzibar.
As part of the China-Africa-WHO collaboration on schistomiasis control, the signing was conducted by Hon. Wang Guo Qiang, Vice Minister, NHFPC, and Hon. Juma Duni Haji, Minister of Health Zanzibar and the Dr. Magareth Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization.
The programme to be implemented for a period of three year, commencing in June 2014, will involve undertaking baseline surveys on prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis, mapping of parasites distribution, knowledge, attitude and practice of people in endemic areas and studying the vectors behaviours as well as snail control using new formulation of mollusciciding.
Urogenital schistosomiasis is one of the major public health problems across Africa, especially South of Sahara -where an estimated, 85% of all cases of schistosomiasis exist. The disease has serious consequences including anaemia, impaired cognitive capacity, growth retardation and even development of bladder cancer.
China has a long standing relationship with Zanzibar in supporting health sector in service delivery.
