Accra, April 15, – Health experts and advocates have renewed calls for stronger global and national action to protect women and children from Chagas disease, warning that persistent gaps in awareness, screening and treatment continue to worsen its impact.
They said women were not responsible for spreading the disease but remain among its most affected yet least supported groups, requiring targeted prevention, diagnosis and care.
In a statement marking World Chagas Disease Day, observed on April 14, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged governments to prioritise maternal and child health interventions to curb transmission.
The statement called for an end to misconceptions surrounding the disease and greater focus on screening women of reproductive age.
It noted that about two million women aged 15 to 44 are living with Chagas disease globally. The illness is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and is mainly transmitted through triatomine insects, commonly known as “kissing bugs.”
Health experts warned that mother-to-child transmission is now one of the leading routes of infection, with between three and five per cent of babies born to infected mothers at risk during pregnancy.
“Women are central to breaking the cycle of transmission, yet they continue to face stigma and limited access to testing and treatment,” the WHO said.
The statement explained that Chagas disease often begins with mild symptoms such as fever, fatigue and swelling, but can progress silently over time.
Without treatment, about one in three infected persons may develop severe complications affecting the heart and digestive system.
Despite its risks, experts stressed that the disease is both preventable and treatable, particularly when detected early.
They noted that treatment of women before pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission, while early diagnosis in newborns can achieve cure rates above 90 per cent.
Available treatments include antiparasitic medicines such as Benznidazole and Nifurtimox, which are most effective in the early stages of infection.
Stakeholders urged governments and health systems to expand screening for women, particularly before pregnancy, and ensure routine testing for newborns.
They also called for sustained public education to dispel myths and encourage early health-seeking behaviour.
“Raising awareness is critical. Women must be supported, not blamed, in the fight against Chagas disease,” the statement added.
The WHO noted that although the disease was historically associated with Latin America, cases are increasingly being recorded in other regions due to migration and changing transmission patterns.
It called for renewed commitment to protecting women and children, stressing that empowering women through early detection and treatment remains key to eliminating the disease.
GHBUSS
15 April 2026
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