Fourth WHO Meeting of the Non-Endemic Countries Initiative on the Control of Chagas Disease<br>and<br>WHO Meeting of Partners and Stakeholders on the Control and Elimination of Chagas Disease

Artwork: "Mala Sangre" (Bad blood) , Néstor Favre-Mossier, donated to WHO

In the new framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (the health goal), with target 3.3 aiming at ending the epidemics of neglected tropical diseases by 2030 and target 3.8 aiming at achieving universal health coverage;

With a first ever corresponding UN/SDG indicator (3.3.5) entitled “Number of people requiring interventions against neglected tropical diseases” aiming at monitoring the advances in the control/elimination of NTD annually;

 Following the: 

• ​scientific advances in the knowledge of Chagas disease, its prevention, management and control; and
• new information and surveillance systems, information, education and communication tools and biomedical instruments,

The Programme on control of Chagas disease is pleased to invite you to participate in:

• the Fourth WHO Meeting of the Non-Endemic Countries Initiative on the Control of Chagas disease; and
• the WHO Meeting of Partners and stakeholders on the Control and Elimination of Chagas Disease.

The WHO global strategy to control/eliminate Chagas disease comprises four components: 

1. interrupting transmission (acquired through vectorial, oral, transfusional, organ transplantation and congenital routes);
2. providing healthcare to those affected by the disease (using antiparasitic and non-antiparasitic treatments, such as cardiac, digestive, neurological and psychological therapies, as well as counselling); 
3. sharing good quality information to guide interventions and to give evidence of achievements, using a global information and surveillance system (including mapping); and
4. promoting information, education and communication to control Chagas disease for key actors and affected population.

Therefore, the objectives of the Fourth WHO meeting of the Non-Endemic Countries Initiative on the Control of Chagas disease are: 

1. to update country profiles and mapping of the global distribution of Chagas disease (2013−2017 period);
2. to review information on which control measures have been implemented and how  they have been implemented (2013−2017 period);
3. to assess progress towards the interruption of transmission, with a focus on blood transfusion;
4. to agree on objectives and goals for control/elimination in 2019–2023; and
5. to develop a roadmap for achieving the 2019–2023 objectives and goals.

The objectives of the WHO Meeting of Partners and stakeholders on the Control and Elimination of Chagas Disease are: 

1. to present the updates about the epidemiological situation of Chagas disease and in the new UN SDGs context, the objectives for control/elimination;
2. to update on innovative strategies and instruments to push the agenda on control and elimination of Chagas disease and monitor and verify achievements;
3. to share the background and current support to the WHO objectives of control and elimination of Chagas disease, together with the goals for the next five years; and
4. to discuss and approve a meeting document with main partners and stakeholders conclusions and recommendations.