A collaborative alliance fighting Chagas disease

Chagas, a disease often described as being both silent and silenced, affects some 6 million people in the world, mostly from predominantly poor and vulnerable populations. The disease causes 12,000 deaths a year and is a major public health problem in endemic countries in Latin America and in countries that receive migrants from those areas. The most surprising aspect of the problem is that 99% of those affected are not being treated. Recent studies have shown that—while it is essential to develop new protocols, diagnostic tools and drugs for Chagas disease—it is nonetheless possible to treat patients with the tools currently available and that treatment is recommended. The central aim of the Global Chagas Disease Coalition is to prioritise the diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease. To achieve this goal we need to ensure the political commitment of the governments of affected countries, particularly those in Latin America, to the task of defining comprehensive strategies to tackle the problem. Since the 1990s, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and local health authorities in endemic countries have made great progress in strengthening control programmes and reducing disease transmission. It is a good moment, progress in the latest years give us hope to think that it is possible to advance. However, the challenges that lie ahead will require a coordinated effort involving all the non-governmental actors in the fight against this disease (academia, civil society, non-governmental organisations and the private sector) together with national and local governments in order to implement new interventions aimed at reducing the global impact of the disease. Many of these actors are already working on initiatives related to Chagas disease. However, individual initiatives or a piecemeal approach can give rise to a variety of projects with different scopes and objectives. A coalition is created aiming at better coordination and to give Chagas disease greater prominence on the political agenda—a position more consistent with the real impact of this disease on the lives of those affected and with the public health and financial burden it imposes in the countries where the disease is endemic.

The Global Chagas Disease Coalition is an open, ambitious and collaborative alliance in which—by sharing our experience, knowledge and capacity for action—we hope to achieve the goal of alleviating the human suffering caused by Chagas disease and, ultimately, controlling the disease once and for all.

Our vision

A world where Chagas Disease is controlled and universal access to treatment becomes a reality

Our goals and objectives

The Coalition’s mission is to increase awareness of Chagas disease through greater political commitment on the part of policy makers in the affected countries and to call for greater access to treatment for patients and a commitment to provide the funds needed to finance interventions (including treatment programmes) and research and development of new tools and drugs. The Global Chagas Coalition objective is to promote access to diagnosis and treatment for patients with Chagas disease and to stimulate innovation and encourage global efforts to develop new tools to fight the disease. This objective will be achieved by pursuing three more specific objectives related to Chagas disease:

  1. Accelerate access to treatment and prevention in affected countries
  2. Increase in global funding for screening, diagnostic and treatment programmes
  3. Increase the contributions supporting R&D programmes

Our strategy

Our principal strategy is an advocacy and a visibility campaign aimed at raising awareness about Chagas disease, calling attention to the issues, and mobilising support for the Coalition’s strategic objectives. The first one, in order to increase the visibility of the problem to a level commensurate with the real burden of Chagas disease and to mobilise the resources necessary to overcome current barriers to treatment. The second one, aimed at informing and educating civil society (to stimulate demand for diagnosis and treatment) and health professionals (to increase the provision of integral care). In addition, the Coalition will work to foster synergies between key actors working to combat Chagas disease. It will collaborate in the task of mapping who is doing what, identifying best practices that can be shared among actors, and promoting the active involvement of all actors in the agreed roadmap. Ultimately, the success of this project will depend on the ability of the key stakeholders—including policymakers and donors—to put in place the policies and funding needed to increase patient access to integrated treatment and support scientific advances.

How are we organised?

Stearing Committee (SC)

The Steering Committee (SC) is responsible for ensuring that the organisation’s work and the results achieved are in line with its mission and founding declaration. The SC is the highest decision-making body in the Coalition and is responsible for deciding on the future development of the organisation.

Executive commitee

The Executive Committee is responsible for drawing up and implementing the strategic plan. This committee is composed of independent experts with recognised expertise in Chagas disease and other neglected tropical diseases. It is coordinated by the Coalition Coordinator.

Coalition Coordinator

The Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the work of the Coalition, the working groups and the committees, as well as for ensuring the flow of information and the implementation of the strategic plan.

Working Groups

Working groups have been created in three areas with different tasks to implement the action plan:

  1. Implementation, access and operational research
  2. R&D
  3. Communications and advocacy (public, private and political)