The Novel Strategy of China-Zanzibar Cooperation Project of Schistosomiasis Control: The Integrated Strategy

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is a serious global neglected tropical disease, and its prevalence is more serious in Africa. For a long time, international aid projects and local governments have mostly focused on mass drug administration (MDA) in the prevention and treatment of schistosomiasis in Africa. For the prevention and control of schistosomiasis, MDA cannot completely eliminate schistosomiasis in Africa. China has achieved great results in the prevention and control of schistosomiasis, and some provinces have eliminated schistosomiasis, the most important of which is the adoption of the integrated strategy. At this stage, the integrated strategy has not been implemented for schistosomiasis control in Africa, and most of them are based on chemotherapy. In 2017, China’s aid to Zanzibar schistosomiasis project implemented the integrated strategy in cooperation with multiple departments in the local area. After 3 years of work, great results have been achieved in the local area. The schistosomiasis infection rate in some areas has dropped from 8.92% to 0.64%. It shows that the Chinese experience in schistosomiasis is applicable to the prevention and control of schistosomiasis in Africa. In order to eliminate schistosomiasis in Africa as soon as possible, it is worth continuing to promote the integrated strategy in other regions of Africa.