Time to integrate Chagas disease into primary health care

• 6–7 million infected, worldwide

• Approximately 12,000 disease-related deaths, every year

• 30,000–40,000 new cases every year

In 2023 we are shining a spotlight on Chagas disease, the suffering it causes and are calling for equitable access to health care and services for everyone affected by the disease.

The theme for 2023 is Time to integrate Chagas disease into primary health care, so that universal care and surveillance start at the most decentralised level of the health system. In many countries, there are low detection rates (10%, frequently <1%) and frequent barriers to access adequate healthcare.

Chagas disease is prevalent among poor populations of continental Latin America but is increasingly being detected in other countries and continents.

It is often termed as a "silent and silenced disease" as the infected majority have no symptoms or extremely mild symptom. There are approximately 6-7 million people infected with Chagas disease worldwide, with 12,000 deaths, every year.

Call for action

• Share accurate, evidence-based and updated information about risks associated with Chagas disease.

• Be empathetic towards infected people or who those who have died due to Chagas disease.

• Countries should increase the investment in capacity and resources for prevention, diagnosis, control and surveillance, starting at primary healthcare level.

• Advocate for care, epidemiological surveillance, and increased investment, starting at primary healthcare level.

• Increase investments in Chagas disease patients' access to diagnosis, safe treatment, care, starting at primary care level.

• More research is needed on effective prevention and cost–effective interventions, including screening (blood, newborns and children, etc.), early case detection, prompt, accessible treatment of cases, vector control, hygiene and food safety.