Comprehensive care for Chagas disease

Introduction

This Triangular Cooperation Initiative, supported by the ADELANTE Window, aims to strengthen the capacities of Paraguay's National Chagas Disease Control Programme (PNCP) by leveraging Bolivia’s successful comprehensive care model. Developed through collaboration between the Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael Saracho (UAJMS) in Bolivia and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), the Initiative focuses on enhancing the diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease in Paraguay.

Chagas disease, classified by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease, presents a major public health challenge, particularly in impoverished areas with limited access to healthcare. The Initiative adopts a comprehensive care approach that addresses both biological and socio-cultural dimensions of the disease, with the ultimate goal of breaking the cycle of poverty and illness.

Objectives

The Initiative has led to capacity building among the professionals of Paraguay’s National Chagas Disease Control Programme (PNCP) and laid the groundwork for replicating a comprehensive care model for Chagas disease (from diagnosis to treatment). It has also generated new insights that improved the model, making it more adaptable and effective. As a result, the updated approach is now available as a reference for other endemic and emerging countries, offering a meaningful contribution to strengthening health systems across Latin America, the Caribbean, and parts of Europe.

Project activitites

The Comprehensive Care for Chagas Disease Initiative encompasses four key activities aimed at enhancing the management and treatment of Chagas disease in Paraguay:

• Capacity building:
  • Training healthcare professionals within PNCP to enhance diagnostic and treatment capabilities.
• Model implementation:
  • Adapting and applying Bolivia’s comprehensive care model to the Paraguayan healthcare system.
• Policy development:
  • Establishing standardized diagnosis and treatment protocols to improve healthcare consistency.
• Research collaboration:
  • Encouraging joint scientific studies between Bolivian and Paraguayan institutions to advance understanding and treatment of Chagas disease.
• Community engagement:
  • Addressing the social and cultural dimensions of Chagas disease to enhance community awareness and patient adherence to treatment.

Expected results

The Initiative has already achieved significant outcomes in Paraguay, including:

• Improved capabilities among PNCP healthcare professionals.
• Successful adaptation and implementation of Bolivia’s comprehensive care model.
• Establishment of standardized protocols for Chagas disease management.
• Strengthened collaboration between Bolivian and Paraguayan research institutions.
• Increased community engagement and awareness of Chagas disease prevention and treatment.

By making the comprehensive care model more effective and adaptable, the initiative contributes to the global fight against Chagas disease and aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals 3 ‘Good health and well being’, which aims to end epidemics of neglected tropical diseases by 2030 particularly Targets:

• Target 3.3 By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.
• Target 3.C Substantially increase health financing and the recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island developing States.

Providers

• Universidad Autónoma Juan Misael Saracho - UAJMS (Bolivia): Provider of the foundational comprehensive care model for Chagas disease.
• Barcelona Institute for Global Health - ISGlobal (Spain): Expert in global health research and policy development.

Implementing partner

Paraguay’s National Chagas Disease Control Programme - PNCP (Paraguay): Implementing and adapting the model to the Paraguayan healthcare system.