DAR ES SALAAM, July 30 (Xinhua) -- The expert team of the China-aided Zanzibar schistosomiasis prevention and control project on Wednesday held an awards ceremony for a secondary school poster competition and a health school plaque presentation at Hemed Secondary School on Pemba Island.
More than 300 participants attended the event, including officials from Zanzibar's health and education departments, teachers, students and Chinese medical experts.
Speaking at the ceremony, representatives of local authorities expressed appreciation for China's long-term support in schistosomiasis prevention, health education and school health programs, noting the project's contribution to improving public health awareness in local communities.
Wang Jie, deputy director of the Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, said schools play a vital role in cultivating health awareness and encouraging healthy behavior among young people.
Wang said the initiative would help strengthen disease prevention education and enable students to share health knowledge with their families and communities.
A total of 342 posters created by students from more than 30 secondary schools across Pemba Island were submitted for the competition, highlighting disease transmission, risks and prevention measures. Nineteen students received awards.
Chinese experts also donated teaching materials and delivered a public lecture on schistosomiasis prevention, further enhancing students' understanding of the disease. ■