Archives of Inflammation

Abstract

Over the last three decades, MAP International has worked in NTDs, specially Chagas Disease, to build local upstream capacity to address the root causes of these diseases and to resolve other public health problems in Bolivia. Our Community Based Chagas Control Programs “going upstream” seeks to invest efforts and resources where the community has the greatest potential to positively influence health. This strategy builds community capacity to understand and diagnose Chagas; overcome conditions for Chagas by introducing prevention measures, change the vector's (vinchucas) ecosystem, introduce sanitary and hygiene practices; and build the capacity of the local health system for diagnosis, treatment and follow up of patients. The program uses a set of indicators to establish an epidemiological map of disease, risk factor and vector presence along with identified patients, and provides support to complete their Chagas treatment. Community authorities and members play a central role in building local capacity to engage the Health System and synergically make the program sustainable. The presentation will describe the program and how to engage communities and government officials; monitoring indicators; a variety of integrated community based activities such as training families, health promoters and local authorities; environmental changes and home improvement strategies to eradicate the vector; how we screen populations in the communities, confirm diagnoses, and follow up with patients; family and community support for patients; fostering networks between government agencies and grassroots organizations; mobilization for Chagas control, and other related subjects.