Consolidating schistosomiasis control work: Yu Kang stresses accurately grasping the situation and intensifying efforts

According to the requirements of the State Council's “spring inspection and autumn meeting” system for schistosomiasis control work, from May 4 to 7, Vice Minister of Agriculture Yu Kangzhen led a joint inspection team composed of the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the Ministry of Water Resources, the State Forestry Administration and other ministries and commissions to inspect schistosomiasis control work in Hunan and Hubei provinces. Yu Kangzhen stressed that it is necessary to accurately grasp the current situation facing schistosomiasis control work, fully understand the complexity, difficulty, long-term nature and recurring nature of schistosomiasis control work, intensify efforts, ensure the completion of target tasks on schedule, and lay a solid foundation for the implementation of the schistosomiasis control plan for the next ten years.

The inspection team conducted on-site inspections in Hanshou County, Hunan, and Jiangling County, Hubei; listened to reports on schistosomiasis control work in the two provinces, exchanged and provided feedback on the inspection results, and put forward clear requirements for doing a good job in the next stage of schistosomiasis control work. Yu Kangzhen pointed out that the party committees and governments of the two provinces attached great importance to schistosomiasis control work, earnestly implemented the spirit of the planning outline and the National Schistosomiasis Control Work Conference, adhered to combining prevention and treatment, highlighted key work, vigorously grasped source control, strengthened comprehensive management, and vigorously promoted a comprehensive prevention and control strategy focusing on infection source control, and schistosomiasis control work achieved remarkable results and social benefits. He stressed that the 2014 National Schistosomiasis Control Work Conference clearly proposed basically achieving transmission interruption nationwide by 2020 and striving to eliminate schistosomiasis nationwide by 2025, and the prevention and treatment task is extremely arduous.

Yu Kangzhen required that all localities intensify their work and make great efforts to ensure implementation. First, firm confidence and determination. Focusing on the target tasks set by the planning outline, clarify priorities, implement responsibilities, concentrate forces to fight tough battles, and ensure the timely achievement of prevention and treatment goals. Second, continue to strengthen monitoring and early warning. Strengthen monitoring and risk assessment of key risk points in the transmission chain of schistosomiasis, such as humans, livestock and snails, timely grasp schistosome infection situations, and truly give play to the role of monitoring and early warning. Third, coordinate the promotion of comprehensive schistosomiasis control. Continue to strengthen joint prevention and joint control, strengthen multi-departmental collaboration, integrate resources from all parties, strengthen coordination, and improve the efficiency of fund use. Through concentrated contiguous management and advancement village by village and township by township, strive to manage one area, meet standards in one area, and consolidate one area. At the same time, strengthen the supervision of schistosomiasis control project funds. Fourth, accelerate the transformation of agricultural development mode and structural adjustment. Actively guide farmers in epidemic areas to change their production and lifestyle, scientifically adjust planting and breeding structures, fundamentally cut off the transmission routes of schistosomiasis, and ensure the effectiveness of schistosomiasis control work. At the same time, strengthen the management of mobile populations on water such as fishermen and boatmen, and actively guide fishermen to settle ashore and change occupations. Fifth, plan schistosomiasis control work for the “13th Five-Year Plan” early. On the basis of doing a good job in the final evaluation of the “12th Five-Year Plan” schistosomiasis control plan, and in light of actual conditions, start the compilation of the “13th Five-Year Plan” special plan as soon as possible. At the same time, it is also necessary to strengthen publicity and education work, raise the masses' awareness of self-protection, and form a good atmosphere of mass prevention and mass control.

Responsible comrades from the Hunan Provincial and Hubei Provincial Governments and their relevant departments accompanied the joint inspection work.