Chinese experts help Zanzibar create 1st map to combat schistosomiasis – Xinhua

Report on Schistosomiasis Vector Mapping in Zanzibar and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A Chinese public health expert team, under the framework of the China-aided Zanzibar schistosomiasis control project, has successfully completed the first-ever distribution map of schistosomiasis transmission vectors for the region. This significant milestone provides a critical tool for disease elimination efforts and demonstrates a strong commitment to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Project Methodology and International Partnership (SDG 17)

The project is a testament to the effectiveness of international cooperation as outlined in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), combining Chinese technical expertise with local health initiatives in Zanzibar. The comprehensive survey was conducted with scientific rigor to establish a reliable evidence base for future interventions.

• A month-long systematic survey was conducted across 320 key water bodies.
• Over 40,000 Bulinus snails, the intermediate hosts for Schistosoma haematobium, were collected and identified using World Health Organization (WHO) standard methods.
• Environmental data, including water type, vegetation, and patterns of human contact, were recorded to assess transmission risks.

Direct Impact on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The creation of the vector distribution map is a direct contribution to SDG Target 3.3, which calls for an end to the epidemics of neglected tropical diseases by 2030. According to team leader Wang Wei, the map provides a scientific foundation for Zanzibar’s public health strategy against schistosomiasis.

1. Targeted Surveillance: The map highlights high-risk areas, enabling health authorities to focus surveillance and control resources more effectively.
2. Informed Environmental Management: Data from the survey will guide environmental management strategies aimed at controlling the snail population.
3. Enhanced Health Education: The findings will be used to develop targeted health education initiatives for communities at the highest risk of infection.

Broader Implications for Sustainable Development

The project’s impact extends beyond immediate health outcomes, contributing to interconnected development goals.

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): By identifying snail habitats and areas of human-water contact, the project provides crucial data that can inform efforts to secure safe water sources and reduce the transmission of water-borne diseases.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The collaboration was hailed by Shaali Makame Ame of the Zanzibar Ministry of Health as a “key milestone,” underscoring the value of knowledge sharing and bilateral support in building local capacity to combat disease.

Conclusion

The completion of Zanzibar’s inaugural schistosomiasis vector map is a landmark public health achievement. It provides an essential strategic tool for disease elimination and exemplifies how targeted international partnerships can accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, fostering a healthier future for the people of Zanzibar.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues that are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The central theme of the article is the effort to control and eliminate schistosomiasis, a communicable disease, which directly aligns with the goal of ensuring healthy lives.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The project is a collaborative effort between China and Tanzania (“China-aided Zanzibar schistosomiasis control project”), showcasing a partnership to achieve sustainable development objectives.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: Schistosomiasis is a water-borne disease transmitted by snails in water bodies. The survey of “320 key water bodies” and assessment of “human contact activities” in water connects the project to the management of water resources to prevent disease.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
   • Target 3.3: “By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.” The article explicitly focuses on schistosomiasis, which is a neglected tropical and water-borne disease. The project’s goal is to lay the groundwork for Zanzibar “to eliminate the disease,” directly contributing to this target.
2. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.6: “Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation…” The project is described as a “China-aided” initiative with a “Chinese public health expert team” working with a “Tanzanian counterpart.” This is a clear example of South-South cooperation focused on sharing public health expertise and technology.
   • Target 17.9: “Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries…” The creation of the distribution map provides a “scientific foundation for Zanzibar’s future surveillance, environmental management and health education initiatives,” thereby building local capacity to manage the disease.
3. Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
   • Target 6.3: “By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution…” While not the primary focus, the project’s survey of “320 key water bodies” and the recording of “environmental factors” are foundational steps in managing water-related ecosystems to reduce the presence of disease vectors (snails), which is an aspect of improving water quality for human health.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions or implies several indicators that can measure progress:

• For Target 3.3:
  • An implied indicator related to Indicator 3.3.5 (Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases). The creation of the “distribution map of schistosomiasis transmission vectors” is a tool to better target interventions and ultimately reduce the number of people at risk or infected, which is a measure of progress towards eliminating the disease.
• For Target 17.6 & 17.9:
  • The existence of the “China-aided Zanzibar schistosomiasis control project” itself serves as an indicator of international cooperation.
  • A tangible indicator of capacity-building is the completion of “Zanzibar’s first-ever distribution map.” The article notes this “marks a key milestone,” demonstrating a new capacity for systematic data collection and analysis that Zanzibar did not previously have.
• For Target 6.3:
  • The systematic survey of “320 key water bodies” and the collection of data on “environmental factors” can be seen as a preliminary step towards monitoring water quality and health. This data collection effort is an indicator of progress in understanding and managing water bodies to mitigate health risks, which relates to Indicator 6.3.2 (Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: english.news.cn