The 7th Annual Meeting of the Institution-Based Network on China-Africa Cooperation for Schistosomiasis Elimination was held in Haikou

The 7th Annual Meeting of the Institution-Based Network on China-Africa Cooperation for Schistosomiasis Elimination was held in Haikou, China on November 18, 2022. Prof. Zhou Xiaonong, the director of National Institute of Parasitic diseases (NIPD), Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, presided over the opening ceremony. Dr. Amadou Garba, leading the global schistosomiasis control programme based in the Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, World Health Organization (WHO) and Dr. He Zhaohua, deputy director of the Department of International Cooperation, National Health Commission, China, delivered welcome speeches. Thirty-two professionals from Cameroon, Mali, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Egypt and other African countries, experts from the Global Alliance for Schistosomiasis Elimination, Merck, and invited Chinese experts participated in the meeting online and offline. Meanwhile 181 audience watched the live broadcast.

 

Dr Amadou Garba, Dr Pauline Mwinzi from WHO Africa Region, Professor Louis Albert Tchuem-Tchuente from University of Yaoundé, Cameroon, Dr. Mohamed Habib from Institute of Theodore Bir Hadz, Egypt, and Dr. Jing Xu from NIPD, gave five keynote speeches on the global schistosomiasis elimination guidelines, progress in schistosomiasis elimination in Africa, snail control, the situation and challenges in schistosomiasis elimination in Cameroon and China. In panel discussion session, the participants had practical discussions on the construction, operation and future development plan of the INCAS, the partnership between global schistosomiasis research institutions and China-Africa cooperation. Finally, Prof Zhou Xiaonong pointed out that communication should continue to be strengthened through regular meetings to promote exchanges among all parties. He highlighted that the most important issue from now on is to start the preparation of work plans for the network to pave the way for future.