Journal of Infectious Diseases & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Over the last three decades, MAP International has used a Community Based strategy to resolve many public health problems in Bolivia. For two decades, we have implemented Community Based Chagas Control Programs focused on building community capacity to understand and diagnose Chagas, treat and follow-up patients, overcome myths that reproduce conditions for Chagas, prevention measures such as changing the vector's (vinchucas) ecosystem niche, introduce sanitary and hygiene practices, and building local capacity of the local health system for diagnosis, treatment and follow up of patients, among others. The Chagas control program uses a set of indicators to establish an epidemiological map of the presence of the disease, presence of risk factors, including the presence of the vector (vinchuca), and identified patients and support provided 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. It also will present the indicators used to for surveillance and monitoring achievements and impact. This presentation will show a variety of integrated community-based activities for Chagas control, such as training families, health promoters, and local authorities; environmental changes and home improvement 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.

Biography

Dr. Jose Miguel De Angulo is the Regional Director for Latin America for MAP International. He has worked with the MAP for over 30 years in the area of maternal and child health. He has worked internationally in various public health programs, community health programs, and grass-roots community organization projects, including TDs control programs. Dr. De Angulo earned his Medical Degree from Universidad del Cauca in Colombia. He received a Masters of Public Health (MPH) from John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, and holds a Masters of Arts in Religion (MAR) from Eastern Baptist Seminar in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Luz Stella Losada is the National Director for MAP International in Bolivia. She initiated a pioneering Community Health Promoter Training Program in 1988, which trained more than 2,000 men and women from urban and rural areas throughout the Department of Cochabamba. This training program helped launch a variety of Community Based health programs, including NTDs and the Community Chagas Control program that has effectively strengthened local capacity for sustainable Chagas management. She has co-authored over a dozen books on these subjects. She received a Master Degree in Health Education from Limburg University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.

E-mail: mapbol@verizon.net