On May 21, 2014, Wang Guoqiang, Vice-Minister of the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC); Dr Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General; and Juma Duni Haji, Minister of Health of Zanzibar, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation in prevention and control of schistosomiasis in Zanzibar at the 67th World Health Assembly held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Wu Hailong, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the United Nations Office in Geneva, and Hiroki Nakatani, Assistant Director-General of the WHO, attended the signing ceremony. Later, Wang and Haji accepted an interview.

Wang said that this cooperation conformed to the principle of “Africa agrees, Africa needs, Africa participates” proposed by Premier Li Keqiang to encourage the participation of African countries, marking China’s first exploration to launch cooperation in health with international organizations in African countries. The cooperation is a crucial step to carrying out the Beijing Declaration of the Ministerial Forum of China-Africa Health Development in 2013. It is significant in improving China’s health support for Africa and exploring new ways of international cooperation in health for Africa.

Wang highly praised the achievements made in the cooperation between China and the WHO. He said that the health cooperation between China and the WHO with African countries would strengthen coordination. It will make full use of China’s experience, products and technology in advantageous fields and make greater contribution to the improvement of health conditions in Africa, Wang said.

The MOU stated that the Chinese government will offer funding and technology. The WHO will provide technical support and organizational coordination to evaluate strategies and research methods in controlling schistosomiasis, explore and implement proper controlling strategies, and promote the elimination of schistosomiasis in Zanzibar.

Schistosomiasis is a global public health issue, prevailing in 78 countries and areas in the world, including Asia, South America, the Middle East and Africa. According to a report of the WHO, in 2012 at least 249 million people needed preventive treatment for schistosomiasis. , with over 90% of those affected residing in African countries.