Eradication of schistosomiasis in Guangxi, China. Part 2: Political economy, management strategy and costs, 1953-92

Reported are the results of a study of the political economy, management, a nd costs of the successful Guangxi schistosomiasis eradication programme, s panning 40 years from 1953 to 1992. For this purpose we analysed all govern ment data and memoranda on the policy, management technical support, financ e, and the control strategy of the programme. We also interviewed many loca l staff involved in the programme over the 40-year period and obtained cost data from annual county-level records on seven major categories of variabl e costs. Schistosomiasis control in Guangxi began with one of the first examples of community participation and rapid assessment in public health history - the use of pre-franked envelopes to return disease questionnaires and suspect snails from rural areas. This approach quickly and accurately delineated th e endemic area. This was Mao Zedong's "mass line': incorporating ideas and knowledge from peasants directly into services run for and by them, here th e schistosomiasis control programme. Recognition by China's leaders that sc histosomiasis was a great economic burden, steadfast prioritizing of the pr ogramme over 40 years, local innovative scientific study, agricultural and environmental focus on eradicating the snail hosts and boosting rural produ ction, and mass community education and support were all key factors in the final success. Local leaders motivated programme staff and everyone involv ed knew the objectives. The programme was always multisectoral, with policy developed centrally, and strategy and collaboration encouraged and rewarde d at the grass-roots. These features explain how a very poor autonomous reg ion such as Guangxi finally eradicated schistosomiasis, spending less than US$ 0.50 per protected citizen per year; if is remarkable that the disease and snails were initially found across a large area of complex environments and modern drugs such as praziquantel were not available for most of the 4 0-year period. The lessons from Guangxi can be adapted elsewhere and should encourage other areas to control endemic schistosomiasis using methods dev ised to suit the local culture and geography.