By Samira Larbie, GNA
Accra, April 15, GNA – Health advocates have called for urgent action to address the growing impact of Chagas disease on women.
They said women were not the source of infection but among the most overlooked victims, requiring targeted prevention and support.
The World Health Organization said this in a statement issued to mark World Chagas Disease Day, observed on April 14.
The statement called for a shift in misconceptions and prioritisation of prevention strategies targeting women of reproductive age.
It said an estimated two million women aged between 15 and 44 were living with the disease globally, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and mainly transmitted by triatomine insects, also known as “kissing bugs.”
Health experts warned that mother-to-child transmission had become one of the leading modes of spread worldwide.
They said between three and five per cent of babies born to infected mothers risked contracting the disease 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 noted.
The statement said Chagas disease often began with mild symptoms such as fever, fatigue and swelling, but could progress silently.
Without treatment, about one in three infected persons could develop severe complications, particularly affecting the heart and digestive system.
Despite the risks, experts indicate that the disease is preventable and treatable.
Treating women before pregnancy could almost eliminate the risk of transmission to babies, while early diagnosis and treatment of newborns could achieve cure rates exceeding 90 per cent.
Available treatments include antiparasitic medicines such as Benznidazole and Nifurtimox, which are most effective when administered early.
Stakeholders urged governments and health systems to prioritise screening programmes for women, especially before pregnancy, and ensure routine testing of newborns.
They also highlighted the need for sustained community education to dispel myths and promote early health-seeking behaviour.
“Raising awareness is critical. Women must be supported, not blamed, in the fight against Chagas disease,” it added.
The statement noted that although the disease had historically been associated with Latin America, it was increasingly being reported in other regions due to global migration and changing transmission patterns.
It called for renewed commitment to protect women and children, stressing that empowering women through early detection and treatment was key to ending the disease.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey