Women at the heart of care on World Chagas Disease Day in a new spot by BeatChagas

On April 14th, the BeatChagas platform launched a new edition of the I Wear The T-Shirt (#PonteLaCamiseta) campaign for World Chagas Disease Day.

A new promotional spot encourages people to wear this t-shirt, which in recent years has traveled across continents as a symbol of the much-needed visibility for this neglected disease, often invisible and silenced. The 2026 video stars actress Dira Paes and mindfulness therapist Graziella Huertas. As a side note, it is worth recalling the participation of basketball player Marcelinho Huertas (Graziella’s partner) in the 2024 edition, who led the campaign to coincide with the fifth anniversary of the World Day.

For World Chagas Disease Day 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) is unifying the efforts of patient associations under the theme: “Women at the heart: protecting the new generation from Chagas disease“. This slogan aims to highlight the key role women play —across various social and professional spheres— in the strategies and actions that will lead us to a future where Chagas is no longer a public health problem. Furthermore, the campaign emphasizes the need to support women in their complex relationship with the disease, which is sometimes misinterpreted through unfair stigma due to their childbearing potential, rather than sufficiently valuing their omnipresent contribution toward a shared solution.

Through this spot, BeatChagas provides essential facts about the disease, its transmission routes, and the importance of early detection. Above all, it invites us to reflect once again on what we can contribute to the fight against Chagas, from the smallest gesture to the largest impact. We encourage everyone to acquire, share, gift, and ultimately increase the visibility of the promotional materials offered by the platform. World Chagas Disease Day must be an opportunity to remind ourselves and others that Chagas is everyone’s concern, on April 14th and every day of the year.

Chagas Disease is a neglected tropical disease caused by infection with the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. It represents a complex health challenge where women serve as a fundamental pillar of the response. As the WHO Fact Sheet states: “When we support a woman, we protect her and the next generation.”

The BeatChagas platform is a tool of the Technical Group on Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) on Chagas (TG6-IEC Chagas) within the World Health Organization (WHO) Chagas Disease Control Program. The platform provides information and materials accessible to other stakeholders interested in contributing to the WHO’s goals for improved prevention and control of Chagas disease worldwide.

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