In a groundbreaking effort to combat the debilitating parasitic disease schistosomiasis, Chinese experts from the Schistosomiasis prevention project team visited Simai Secondary School on Tanzania’s Zanzibar Pemba Island.
The team, led by Dai Yang, delivered a unique health education session, introducing students and teachers to the life cycle, transmission routes, and prevention methods of the disease.
Li Qianghua, consul general of the Chinese consulate general in Zanzibar, attended the session, emphasizing the long-standing friendship between China and Tanzania, particularly in the health sector.
The session took a simple and easy-to-understand approach, using vivid animations and real cases to explain the harm of schistosomiasis and how to prevent it. The importance of clean water sources was stressed, with a call to action to use clean water, avoid playing in ponds and streams, and maintain good hygiene practices.
The students were fully engaged, displaying strong curiosity and attentiveness as they gained a basic understanding of the disease and enhanced their awareness of self-protection.
To make the learning experience more interactive, the expert group organized a question-and-answer session, where students actively participated and received health education supplies, such as colored pens and rulers, as rewards.
The principal of the school, Salum Hamad, expressed gratitude to the Chinese experts, praising the method of health education for stimulating students’ enthusiasm for knowledge and bringing practical disease prevention knowledge to the students.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by China to work with developing countries in Africa to improve health and economic levels. By sharing knowledge and expertise, China aims to help countries like Tanzania eliminate schistosomiasis and create a healthier environment for their citizens.
As Li Qianghua noted, China is committed to working hand in hand with Tanzania and other African countries to achieve this goal.
