WORLD CHAGAS DISEASE DAY
How to participate in the campaign
“I wear the T-shirt of
the World Chagas Disease Day”?
All personalities from the world of sports, art or public communication of sciences who agree to wear the shirt and spread their image (photographs and/or videos) on social networks are welcome. The initiative will be in force throughout this year, starting on April 1, 2022.
This campaign is situated within the framework of the principles of the United Nations and respect for Human Rights, disassociating itself from conflicts of interest of a political, religious or economic nature. Information on the «I wear the World Chagas Disease Day T-shirt» campaign, with its objectives and strategy, is available on the(www.beatchagas.info/worldchagasdiseaseday BeatChagas platform ). The photos and/or videos should be sent to: info@beatchagas.info
As the campaign progresses, photos and videos of the personalities wearing the T-shirt, as testimonials, will be shared through the BeatChagas platform (www.beatchagas.info), together with the personal and institutional networks of those who join the campaign. To give more strength and unity to the initiative, it is proposed that the images be accompanied by the following hashtags: #diamundialchagas #worldchagasday #oms #who #chagas #enfermedadchagas
It is suggested that personalities, as testimonials, wear the T-hirt and share messages similar to the following:
- I join this campaign (which transcends borders) and I wear the T-shirt of the World Chagas Disease Day. And you/you?”
- I join this campaign (which transcends borders) and I wear the T-shirt of the World Chagas Disease Day. Now I challenge XXXX to join this campaign”
Observation: It is recommended to avoid words such as “Chagasic” and others that are stigmatising or reflect a restrictive discourse to certain social groups or geographic regions.
¿HOW CAN I GET THE T-SHIRT OF WORLD CHAGAS DISEASE DAT?
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OBJETIVES OF THE CAMPAIGN:
On the occasion of the Third edition of WCDD, the Technical Group 6 IEC Chagas of the WHO Chagas disease control programme (https://beatchagas.info/en/technical-group/), with the collaboration of Findechagas (www.findechagas.org), is organising an open public awareness action, supported by public figures involved in the cause, and notably professionals from the sporting world. These are the objectives:
- to increase visibility of the people affected by CD;
- to improve media coverage and implement public policies;
- to raise awareness in a broader, updated and prejudice-free way, facilitating the call for various efforts to attract human, technical and economic resources, promoting the elimination of barriers and stigmatising speeches.
STRATEGY
We designed a T-shirt with the final candidate of the logo created for WCDD, that will be worn by public figures involved with the cause, notably professional sportsmen and sportswomen, artists or public science communicators. The idea is to start a «challenge» where one after the other are invited to wear it and, consequently, give visibility to the Chagas problem through their networks and the networks of the clubs or spaces to which they belong.
The kick-off will be made by the captain of the Brazilian National Basketball Team, Marcelinho Huertas, who will receive the T-shirt from members of the initiative, record a video while wearing the T-shirt.
The goal is for the T-shirt to be worn consecutively by different sportsmen and sportswomen and public figures of various nationalities, from where the history of Chagas disease «began» (Brazil, Argentina…), to places where it has become a public health problem (Europe, Oceania…).
World Chagas Disease Day
During the 72nd World Health Assembly, in May 2019, the World Chagas Disease Day (WCDD) was established on 14 April.
The importance and impact of world days related to health was emphasised when experts consulted by WHO noted that these dates generate more visibility able to influence policy making, raise general awareness and thereby facilitate acquisition of human, technical and economic resources.
The WCDD, among others, was backed up by the following:
- People with Chagas disease (CD) have been diagnosed in up to 44 countries of five continents (North and Central America, South America, Europe, Africa and Oceania). The biggest control challenges include early detection and care of people with T. cruzi infection; it is estimated that <10% of people with CD receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
- In 2005 CD was already included in the WHO list of Neglected Tropical Diseases. There is a need to raise awareness that CD is not a death sentence and make it clear that people who live with the infection or at risk of contracting it face considerable obstacles/challenges. There is an urge to reduce the discrimination, prejudice and stigma that the affected still face in various aspects of their social, family and working life.
- There are numerous challenges regarding the implementation of programs, actions, and comprehensive healthcare protocols for individuals affected by the disease. Those notably include access to timely diagnosis, adequate treatment and follow-up.
A world collaborative process to submit a final candidate for the World Chagas Disease Day logo
In 2020-2021, the Technical Group on Information, Education and Communication to Control Chagas Disease (TG6-IEC Chagas) of the Chagas disease control Programme of the World Health Organization (WHO) organised a public consultation through the BeatChagas platform (www.beatchagas.info).
Nine logo proposals were received (https://beatchagas.info/logos/) and an extended consultation was key to the development and selection of the final candidate of the WCDD logo to be submitted to the WHO Department of Communication.
they have joined the campaign…
