On the morning of New Year's Day in 2026, my colleagues and I followed four experts from the expert group of the "Zanzibar Schistosomiasis Prevention and Control Technology Project" assisted by China to Tanzania, departing from the office area of Pemba Island in Zanzibar and heading to Kirindi Village. About an hour's drive, but extremely difficult to walk. The road surface is bumpy and undulating, with constant bends and bumps. Occasionally, oncoming vehicles may come, so the two cars can only be carefully staggered on narrow roads. During the rainy season, heavy rain and scorching weather alternate, and the humid and hot air envelops this Indian Ocean island. After entering the village, the mobile phone signal immediately disappeared. But in this' disconnected 'village, there is no shortage of epidemic prevention information. On the exterior walls of residential houses, Chinese and Swahili slogans can be seen everywhere: "Early screening for contact with epidemic water" and "Avoid contact with epidemic water and prevent schistosomiasis". In the Benba Island, which is dotted with streams and ponds, water snails are rampant, which is the main parasitic host of schistosomiasis. The residents on the island suffer greatly, and "snail eradication" has become a top priority for the expert group to carry out schistosomiasis prevention and control work in the local area. On January 1st, on Pemba Island in Zanzibar, Tanzania, Wang Wei (center), the leader of the expert group for the "Zanzibar Schistosomiasis Prevention and Control Technology Project" assisted by China, communicated with local children and carried out health education. Xinhua News Agency (photographed by Herman Emmanuel) The task on the first day of the New Year is to carry out routine disinfection and sterilization and sampling of a pond in the village to see if the traces of blister snails can be detected. The disinfection and sterilization equipment was moved out of the vehicle one by one, and the experts put on water boots and sprayed the chemicals with the local workers according to the points. As soon as the rain stopped, the sun became glaring again, and not long after, several people's backs were soaked in sweat. A group of children were watching from not far away. Team members Chen Jianfeng, Ding Xin, and Wang Tao, whose skin was tanned from the sun, each carried a handful of candy and chocolate with them and crouched down to distribute them to the children. They then repeatedly emphasized with simple gestures not to approach the pond. The children nodded and held the candy tightly in their hands. Two years ago, the reporter followed an expert group to visit this pond. At that time, there were still schistosomiasis larvae in the pond, but women washed clothes here every day, and there were also a continuous stream of villagers coming to fetch water and children playing by the water's edge. Two years later today, the water surface is calm, and there is a loud speaker standing near the pond. As long as someone approaches, they will automatically repeat in Swahili: "Don't close to the water source, this is the epidemic area." After disinfection and sterilization and sampling, experts came to a water tower near the pond for inspection. Captain Wang Wei told me that this water tower will be officially put into use in 2024. The water tower has a capacity of 5000 liters and is connected to surrounding water supply points, which can meet the water needs of about 3000 people. To completely eradicate schistosomiasis, in addition to killing snails and providing treatment drugs, clean water sources must also be provided. ”Wang Wei introduced that the schistosomiasis infection rate in the implementation area of the previous project on Pemba Island was as high as 8.92%, but today it has dropped to 0.15%, even lower than the World Health Organization's standard for eliminating schistosomiasis. The water sample from the pond was later taken back to the laboratory. The sample test result shows: negative. The experts are all very happy. On January 1st, in Pemba Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania, clean water continued to flow out from the tap at the water intake point. After leaving Pemba Island, I followed the team to Mikalafuni Village on the main island of Zanzibar. There are about 400 villagers living here, and almost every household has the same prevention and control slogans posted on their walls. Haji Makeme Omar, a 53 year old village chief, said that in the past, many people in the village would urinate blood for no reason, "and later we found out it was schistosomiasis. Although everyone was cured with medication brought by Chinese experts, we are still very worried about infection because water is a big problem. The village chief told reporters that in the past, the whole village had to walk ten kilometers every day to fetch water from the river. Some people pushed carts, some walked, and those with better conditions shared a cow cart. "Schistosomes have been found in this river. Now, a new water tower has been erected in the center of the village. Groundwater is filtered through two channels and stored in a 5000 liter water tower. It is supplied to villagers through 8 water intake points and 16 faucets. A water intake point next to the water tower is built under a mango tree, becoming a new gathering place - where women doing laundry, children playing, and teenagers taking a cool breeze gather. Previously, there was no time to stand here, "the village chief said." The first thing I did every day when I woke up was to go fetch water. "Now, this water point not only serves the village, but also attracts residents from more than ten surrounding villages. Wang Wei introduced that there are currently seven similar safe water supply projects jointly built on the main islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, benefiting about 30000 people. This is the most crucial aspect of preventing and controlling schistosomiasis, "he said," keeping risks out of daily life. "In August 2016, the Jiangsu Provincial Institute of Schistosomiasis Control officially undertook the" Assistance to Zanzibar Schistosomiasis Control Technology Project. In May 2023, Jiangsu Institute of Schistosomiasis Prevention and Control once again undertook the "Assistance to Zanzibar Schistosomiasis Prevention and Control Technology Phase II Project". Since the first group of experts was dispatched in 2017, a total of 44 domestic experts have been sent to Pemba Island. The snail eradication, testing, water supply, education and other work they organized have brought a healthier future to the village. In the evening, thunder came from a distance again, and rainstorm was coming. On Pemba Island, the first day of the new year passed like this. Chinese experts working here say that the arrival of the New Year is worth celebrating, but continuing to do a good job in preventing and controlling schistosomiasis is even more worth looking forward to. (New Society)