ZANZIBAR, Tanzania, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Gratitude and hope now define daily life for Juma Makame Mohamed and Huzaima Bakari Haji, two residents of Chaani whose community has been transformed by a China-supported clean water project.
"We are grateful for the arrival of the Chinese project in our community," said 38-year-old Mohamed.
For years, the Chaani community relied on rivers and unreliable water systems. When supplies from the Zanzibar Water Authority ran dry, sometimes for days, residents had no choice but to fetch water from unsafe sources.
"That water was not safe. Children and adults were exposed to risks," Mohamed recalled.
Today, with the turn of a tap, clean water flows steadily, thanks to a China-aided initiative implemented in partnership with the World Health Organization and the Zanzibar government.
The change has been profound. More than 250 residents in the Chaani community now have access to safe water, instead of relying on contaminated rivers that were once a major source of infection.
"Schistosomiasis has reduced significantly," Mohamed said. "Children are now much healthier because we no longer bathe in the river."
Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease linked to contaminated freshwater, has long affected rural communities across Zanzibar. In Chaani, crowded riverbanks once served as hubs for daily activities, increasing exposure to the disease.
"Before the project, we had to fetch water from rivers, even when it was dirty after rain," said 27-year-old Huzaima Bakari Haji. "Children often suffered from stomach pains and illnesses."
Now, clean water is available within the Chaani community.
"We fetch water right here. Life is easier, and people can focus on other work," she said. "There are almost no cases of schistosomiasis now. It has reduced significantly."
The project's impact extends beyond health, as improved access to water has freed up time for economic activities and household responsibilities.
"In the past, you had to spend hours fetching water," Mohamed said. "Now you go to the tap and continue with your day."
According to Rashid Saleh Khamis, deputy program manager for neglected tropical diseases in Zanzibar, the success is rooted in close cooperation with Chinese experts. "We are working closely with our Chinese colleagues to control and possibly eliminate schistosomiasis," he said.
The initiative combines safe water supply, health education, mass treatment and environmental control. Teams have also conducted awareness campaigns and targeted the snails that carry the parasite.
"Spraying has killed nearly 100 percent of the host snails in affected water bodies," Khamis said, noting a significant drop in infection rates.
Earlier interventions on Pemba Island reduced prevalence from around 20 percent to below 10 percent. The program has since expanded to Unguja, including the North A District, where Chaani is located.
For Wang Wei, leader of the Chinese expert team, water infrastructure plays a central role in breaking the disease cycle. "We built three water towers with 24 supply points in total," he said. "This ensures access to clean water while reducing waterborne diseases."
The project is part of a broader China-Africa health cooperation effort that began in 2016, combining China's experience in disease control with local implementation and international support.
Looking ahead, Wang, also a professor at China's Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases, said plans are in place to expand similar water supply systems across Unguja Island, further strengthening disease prevention and improving living conditions.
