Li Bin (second from left), head of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, visits patients in Shiqu county in Southwest China's Sichuan province.

An inspection team from China's top health watchdog learned about the prevention and treatment of echinococcosis, a parasitic tapeworm, in a local county in Southwest China's Sichuan province on June 9.

The Shiqu county of Sichuan province is one of the highest epidemic areas of echinococcosis in China.

A joint pilot program to fight the disease was launched in November of 2015 by the National Health and Family Planning Commission and Sichuan province.

The inspection team visited the local health center and safe watering points and talked with local people, medical personnel and patients.

Li Bin, head of the commission, spoke highly of the achievements of the pilot program over its operational period and summarized it into four points: setting up and improving procedures and mechanisms, effectively regulating and controlling the source of infection, improving publicity and education, and implementing effective diagnosis and treatment.

With a composite technology comprising eye scans, fingerprints and identity documents, screening for the disease can be precise, said Li.

A special treatment project can also ease the burden of patients, she added.

Li emphasized that the prevention and treatment of echinococcosis is complex and hard. She encouraged local health personnel to work harder in the campaign.

She said all people should increase their awareness and make sure phased objectives can be achieved.

A coordinated prevention and treatment working mechanism should be established, said Li.

Modern technology and on-the-job training should also be enhanced to support a professional and highly-efficient medical team, according to Li.