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Malaria and schistosomiasis are highly prevalent in Burkina Faso, whereas China has successfully eliminated malaria as well as schistosomiasis as a public health problem. To implement the China-Africa health cooperation initiative, a series of activities were launched since 2019 to enhance understanding and cooperation among malaria and schistosomiasis professionals in China and Burkina Faso. This study described the achievements of the First Virtual Symposium of China-Burkina Faso Cooperation on Schistosomiasis and Malaria Control. Pre- and post-test questionnaires were employed to study the knowledge changes of participants regarding malaria and schistosomiasis control and elimination, explore capacity-building priorities, and identify potential challenges. Chi-squared statistics were used to compare the differences between sub-groups, and p value

Abstract Background The Regional Network for Asian Schistosomiasis and Other Helminth Zoonoses (RNAS+) was established in 1998, which has developed close partnerships with Asian countries endemic for schistosomiasis and other helminthiasis in Asia. RNAS+ has provided an ideal regional platform for policy-makers, practitioners and researchers on the prevention, control and research of parasitic diseases in Asian countries. China, one of the initiating countries, has provided significant technical and financial support to the regional network. However, its roles and contributions have not been explored so far. The purpose of this study was to assess China's contributions on the supporting of RNAS+ development. Methods An assessment research framework was developed to evaluate China’s contributions to RNAS+ in four aspects, including capacity building, funding support, coordination, and cooperation. An anonymous web-based questionnaire was designed to acquire respondents’ basic information, and information on China’s contributions, challenges and recommendations for RNAS+development. Each participant scored from 0 to 10 to assess China’s contribution: “0” represents no contribution, and “10” represents 100% contribution. Participants who included their e-mail address in the 2017–2019 RNAS+ annual workshops were invited to participate in the assessment. Results Of 71 participants enrolled, 41 responded to the survey. 37 (37/41, 90.24%) of them were from RNAS+ member countries, while the other 4 (4/41, 9.76%) were international observers. Most of the respondents (38/41, 92.68%) were familiar with RNAS+. Respondents reported that China’s contributions mainly focused on improving capacity building, providing funding support, coordination responsibility, and joint application of cooperation programs on RNAS+ development. The average scores of China’s contributions in the above four fields were 8.92, 8.64, 8.75, and 8.67, respectively, with an overall assessment score of 8.81 (10 for a maximum score). The challenge of RNAS+ included the lack of sustainable funding, skills, etc. and most participants expressed their continual need of China’s support. Conclusions This survey showed that China has played an important role in the development of RNAS+ since its establishment. This network-type organization for disease control and research can yet be regarded as a great potential pattern for China to enhance regional cooperation. These findings can be used to promote future cooperation between China and other RNAS+ member countries.

Objective: To understand the risk factors of cystic echinococcosis in Tibetan population, so as to provide the reference for development of prevention and control strategies., Methods: Four cystic echinococcosis highly-prevalent townships were selected from Naqu County of Tibet and Shiqu County of Sichuan Province, which had similar environmental and altitude conditions, from August to September, 2017. Applying the 1∶1 case-control study, a household survey was conducted to investigate the risk factors of echinococcosis in humans., Results: A total of 378 residents were investigated, of which the numbers of cases and non-cases were both 189. The univariate analysis showed that the years of keeping dogs ( OR = 1.032, P < 0.05), the number of keeping dogs ( OR = 1.260, P < 0.05), the way of raising dogs ( OR = 1.434, P < 0.05), feeding with raw viscera ( OR = 1.531, P < 0.05), and there being stray dogs around ( OR = 1.946, P < 0.05) were the risk factors of echinococcosis. As a result of the multivariate logistic regression analysis, only three risk factors, feeding with raw viscera, there being stray dogs around, and drinking water resource, were included in the regression model., Conclusions: Feeding with raw viscera, there being stray dogs around, and drinking water resource are the risk factors of echinococcosis in humans.

Objective: To investigate the effect of short-term global health training on tropical diseases in China, so as to provide the reference in professional trainings., Methods: The study took the short-term global health training project on tropical diseases in China as an example. The structured questionnaires were distributed to each trainee pre- and post-training course., Results: A total of 89 trainees were included in the survey, and 68.5% (61 cases) of the trainees were older than 35 years and 85.4% (76 cases) of the trainees came from provincial institutes. The passing rate for the test of global health knowledge was significantly improved from the pre-training test (18.0%, 16/89) to the post one (68.2%, 58/85) ( χ 2 = 44.930, P < 0.05) . The knowledge of global health was closely related to the professionals' capacity, i.e., the education level, age, professional title, and experience of international cooperation, but was not statistically related to their genders., Conclusions: This kind of short-term trainings not only greatly improves the professionals' knowledge of tropical diseases control, but also is expected to play a leading role in the international cooperation of global health and tropical diseases control in the future.

The Regional Network for Asian Schistosomiasis and Other Helminth Zoonoses (RNAS + ) plays an important role in promoting the research and control of helminthes in Asia. The development course of RNAS + is summarized in this article and the information of RNAS + annual meeting is collected. The questionnaire survey and expert interview are used to evaluate the role of RNAS + in promoting the prevention and control of helminthes in various Asian countries. The experience of RNAS + operation and its future development are summarized.