DNDi, in partnership with the Mexican National Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CENAPRECE) and the Veracruz Programme for Prevention and Control of Vector Transmitted Diseases, is holding a seminar in Veracruz, Mexico, aimed at identifying the main barriers to comprehensive care for people living with Chagas disease.
Health workers, national and international organizations, and the Mexican Association of People Affected by Chagas Disease are taking part in the seminar (November 26-27), which focuses on a collaborative approach to improving access to diagnostics and treatment of the disease in endemic areas. The 4D (Diagnosis, Design, Development, and Demonstrate Results) approach was developed by DNDi and first implemented in Colombia in 2015.
‘We have now used this methodology in pilot projects in Colombia, Guatemala, and Brazil in collaboration with Ministries of Health and local partners, with positive results,’ said Dr Andrea Marchiol, DNDi’s Access Programme Coordinator. ‘We are happy to take this first step in Mexico in collaboration with partners who are highly engaged in improving the response to the disease.’
Chagas disease, which is transmitted by biting insects known as ‘kissing bugs’, is endemic in Latin America, but also present in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia. It affects over six million people worldwide, yet less than 10% of people with Chagas have been diagnosed, and very few receive treatment. It can cause life-threatening heart damage and gastrointestinal complications, if not treated early.
Photo credit: Fabio Nascimento-DNDi
