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 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.

Image: Ali Foum Mgeni showing the Minister of Agriculture adult schistosomes in the snail culture room