Context
World Chagas Disease Day is observed on 14 April to raise public awareness and visibility among people about Chagas Disease.
History
- The WHO approved the designation of Chagas Disease Day on May 24, 2019, at the 72nd World Health Assembly.
- The first World Chagas Disease Day was observed on 14 April 2020.
- The day has been named after Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas, the Brazilian doctor who diagnosed the first case on 14 April 1909.
The Chagas disease is also called “American trypanosomiasis”. The disease has been termed as silent and silenced disease. This is because, it progresses very slowly and mainly affects the people under poverty who do not have political voice to access health care.
About Chagas Disease
- The Chagas disease is also called “American trypanosomiasis”.
- The disease has been termed as silent and silenced disease.
- This is because it progresses very slowly and mainly affects the people under poverty who do not have a political voice to access health care.
- The disease mainly affects poor people in Latin America.
- It is prevalent in the USA, Western Pacific, European and Canada.
- It transmits through vectors such as T cruzi parasite. Also, it transmits through contact with urine or faeces of blood sucking bugs.
- Without treatment, the disease shall lead to cardiac arrests and can be fatal as well.
- The disease does not spread through human to human contact. However, it can spread through infected blood transfusion.
Theme
- The theme for 2022 is finding and reporting every case to defeat chagas disease.
Significance
- Raising awareness and the profile of this neglected tropical disease, which is often diagnosed in its late stages, is essential to improve the rates of early treatment and cure, together with the interruption of its transmission.
- The day aims to raise the visibility and public awareness of people with Chagas Disease and the resources needed for the prevention, control or elimination of the disease.
- Celebrating World Chagas Disease Day on 14 April will provide a unique opportunity to add a global voice in favour of this and other neglected tropical diseases.
