Opening of New Helminth Control Laboratory, Unguja, Zanzibar
 The
opening of the Helminth Control Laboratory on Zanzibar took place on
Saturday 8th January 2005. The building is a major milestone in
the “Kick out Kichocho” campaign, a collaboration between the London Natural
History Museum, SCI, and the Ministry of Health, Zanzibar. The guest of
honour, Mohammed Aboud Mohammed, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources
and Environment was most impressed with the new facility and eager to learn
about the progress being made in helminth control. Following the unveiling
of a plaque, guests were invited to tour the new building which includes a
research laboratory and snail culture room, offices, stores, experimental
ponds and a small conference room. This important new facility will provide
an excellent base for research on the biology, transmission and
implementation of helminth control strategies. It also provides a diagnostic
and treatment service for helminth infections. Following songs and poems,
speeches were given by Dr David Rollinson (Programme Leader, Natural History
Museum) Dr Omar Makame Shauri (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health) and
Mohammed Aboud Mohammed (Minister of Agriculture). Helminth control on
Unguja is a partnership between the Health Foundation and the
Schistosomiasis Control Initiative. Treatment is initially being aimed at
school children and the first round of treatment reached around 132,000
school children. Work is now in progress to improve health education and
general awareness of schistosomiasis. The Helminth Control team led by Ali
Foum Mgeni work closely together with
Mr Hamad Juma Haji, SCI
Coordinator on Pemba Island.
Ali Foum Mgeni showing the Minister of Agriculture adult
schistosomes in the snail culture room |
