The 72nd World Health Assembly approved the designation of a World Chagas Disease Day which aims, among others, to raise public awareness of this Neglected tropical disease (NTD) that affects mainly poor people.

Theme

Year 2020: "Let's make Chagas disease visible now."

An estimated 6 to 7 million people worldwide are infected with T. cruzi. Chagas' disease is found mainly in endemic areas of 21 continental Latin American countries, where it is mostly transmitted when humans come into contact with faeces and/or urine of infected blood-sucking Triatomine bug.

Vector borne transmission. In epidemiology, a disease vector is any agent that carries and transmits an infectious pathogen into another living organism; most agents regarded as vectors are organisms, such as intermediate parasites or microbes, but it could be an inanimate medium of infection such as dust particles.

Forum: World Chagas Disease Day 2020

• Statement by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) on World Chagas Diseases Day 2020, April 14.

• Organizations and Institutions making Chagas' disease visible.

• Providing information, education and communication for key people involved in Chaga's disease Control.

• Main approaches to prevention of Chagas Disease transmission.

1. spraying of houses and surrounding areas with residual insecticides;

2. house improvements and house cleanliness to prevent vector infestation;

3. personal preventive measures such as bednets, good hygiene practices in food preparation, transportation, storage and consumption;

4. development of contextualized information, education and communication activities for various actors and scenarios about preventative measures;

5. screening of blood donors and referral to the health system the ones identified at risk of infection;

6. testing of organ, tissue or cell donors and receivers and referral to the health system the ones identified at risk of infection.

• Supporting Chagas disease programme that promotes #patients self-care.

• Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Chagas' disease; Pan American Health Organization