The expert team of the China-aided Zanzibar schistosomiasis prevention and control project on Friday conducted a health education campaign on water-related infectious diseases in the Kowale community on Pemba Island, part of Tanzania's semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar.
DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The expert team of the China-aided Zanzibar schistosomiasis prevention and control project on Friday conducted a health education campaign on water-related infectious diseases in the Kowale community on Pemba Island, part of Tanzania's semi-autonomous region of Zanzibar.
More than 300 local residents took part in the event, which aimed to raise awareness of key diseases such as schistosomiasis, diarrhea and cholera, and to strengthen community self-protection capacity ahead of the rainy season, when infection risks typically increase, according to Wang Wei, the project's team leader.
With heavier rainfall expected in the coming months, Wang said that surface water accumulation and contamination are likely to rise, increasing human contact with unsafe water sources and heightening the transmission risk of water-borne diseases.
During the schistosomiasis awareness session, medical specialists explained the parasite's transmission routes and infection mechanisms, stressing that stagnant or contaminated water during the rainy season can significantly accelerate the spread of the disease.
Participants were advised to avoid contact with potentially infested water, refrain from walking barefoot in water and avoid bathing or washing clothes in unfamiliar water sources.
The rainy season represents a critical window for infectious disease prevention, Wang said, adding that early and targeted health education can effectively reduce infection risks and help safeguard community health. ■
