title: Enhancing collaboration between China and African countries for schistosomiasis control.
abstract: Schistosomiasis remains an important public health issue, with a large number of cases reported across sub-Saharan Africa, and parts of Asia and Latin America. China was once highly endemic, but has made substantial progress and is moving towards elimination of schistosomiasis. Meanwhile, despite long-term, repeated, school-based chemotherapy in many African countries, more than 90% of all schistosomiasis cases are concentrated in Africa, and hence, this continent constitutes the key challenge for schistosomiasis control. Opportunities and issues for international collaboration in the fight against schistosomiasis are outlined with a focus on China's experiences, including the role of public health authorities and intersectoral collaboration, use of new and effective snail control approaches and diagnostic tools adapted to the specific stage of control, as well as the strengthening of risk mapping and surveillance-response mechanisms. Training courses targeting African governmental officials and professionals, coupled with field visits of African scientists and control programme managers to China, and vice versa, are considered important for improved schistosomiasis control and elimination. The crucial question remains whether the Chinese experience can be translated and applied in African countries to improve the effectiveness of health interventions and scale-up.
authors: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.
authors: Jing
authors: J
authors: Xu
authors: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Yu
authors: WHO African Region, Intercountry Support Team for Central Africa, Libreville, Gabon.
authors: Louis-Albert Tchuem
authors: LA
authors: Tchuenté
authors: Ingerod, Brastad, Sweden.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Bergquist
authors: National Institute for Research in Public Health, Ministry of Health, Bamako, Mali.
authors: Moussa
authors: M
authors: Sacko
authors: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors: Jürg
authors: J
authors: Utzinger
authors: Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Parasitic Disease, Nanchang, China.
authors: Dan-Dan
authors: DD
authors: Lin
authors: Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Schistosomiasis Control, Wuxi, China.
authors: Kun
authors: K
authors: Yang
authors: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.
authors: Li-Juan
authors: LJ
authors: Zhang
authors: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Wang
authors: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.
authors: Shi-Zhu
authors: SZ
authors: Li
authors: Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors: Jia-Gang
authors: JG
authors: Guo
authors: National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: ipdzhouxn@sh163.net.
authors: Xiao-Nong
authors: XN
authors: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods; D060740:Disease Eradication; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D008975:Molluscacides / Q000494:pharmacology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012556:Schistosomicides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012908:Snails / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D008975:Molluscacides; D012556:Schistosomicides