It aims to raise awareness about this little-known disease that affects millions every year, especially the poor population and people in Latin America.
In 2019, the 72nd World Health Assembly dedicated this day to the disease.
This year’s theme is “time to integrate Chagas disease into primary health care”.
Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis.
The disease is named after physician Carlos Chagas who first detected it in a Brazillian child in 1909.
It is a communicable parasitic disease that has infected 6-7 million people and claims around 12,000 lives every year across the globe.
It is caused by the parasite protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi.
There are currently no vaccines available for Chagas disease.