Chagas Disease: Public Health Experts comment on the Theme of 2024 World Chagas Disease Day which is “Tackling Chagas disease: detect early and care for life initiatives.”

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Today, 14 April, 2024 marks the fifth World Chagas Disease Day. The theme for 2024 focuses on early diagnosis and lifelong care, to increase public awareness of Chagas disease and secure greater support and funding for early diagnosis and comprehensive follow-up care initiatives. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 6–7 million people worldwide are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis).

“Strengthening global surveillance for Chagas disease over the next few years is an essential step towards understanding its real burden and in taking appropriate measures to tackle its neglect”, said Dr Jérôme Salomon, Assistant Director-General, Universal Health Coverage/Communicable and Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO.

Chagas disease is often called a “silent disease” because most patients have no symptoms either during the acute or the chronic phases of infection, until damage is too advanced to be reversed. It remains a public health problem, especially in several endemic areas of continental Latin America. In recent years, however, climate change and global migration have expanded the reach of the disease to several countries beyond the Americas.

Transmission of Chagas disease can occur through six routes: vectorial, oral, congenital, transfusional, organ transplantation and laboratory accident. Early detection is key as Chagas disease is curable when treatment is provided soon after infection. If this does not happen because diagnosis is delayed, the infection can transform into a life-threatening condition. In this case, adequate care throughout life is essential.

World Chagas Disease Day 2024 emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and lifelong care, advocating comprehensive approaches spanning diagnosis and treatment for any confirmed case. Speaking ahead of World Chagas Disease Day 2024, the Director of WHO’s Global Neglected Tropical Diseases Programme, Dr Ibrahima Socé Fall, said:
“I invite everyone to join WHO in observing World Chagas Disease Day. This is an occasion to reflect on how climate change and migration have changed the epidemiological landscape of Chagas disease and turned it into a global condition in just a few years, underscoring the urgent need for heightened awareness and support for initiatives focused on early diagnosis and comprehensive care”.

In his own contribution, another Public Health expert, Dr Eric Oluedo, called on African Heads of government to install and strengthen the ten building blocks of Health Systems in both their rural and urban areas Health Facilities. This will ensure that no emerging diseases like Chagas finds its way into the Continent. He commended the Enugu State governor, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, for embarking on the construction of new 260-type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the 260 Wards of the state. This, together with the Mandatory Health Insurance contained in our new Health Act, will guarantee the early achievement of Universal Health Coverage in Enugu state.

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