World Chagas Disease Day 2026 - WHO Director-General’s Message

Why It Matters

Targeting women and newborns can interrupt congenital transmission, dramatically lowering Chagas prevalence and easing long‑term health costs.

Key Takeaways

• WHO urges screening of all women of childbearing age
• Chagas affects 8 million globally, often transmitted during pregnancy
• Stigma misplaces blame; women are solution, not problem
• Treat and test newborns of infected mothers to break cycle
• 2026 theme: “Women at the heart protecting next generation.”

Summary

World Chagas Disease Day 2026 features a message from WHO Director‑General urging global action. The theme, "Women at the heart protecting the next generation," highlights female‑centric strategies to halt transmission.

The Director‑General notes that an estimated 8 million people live with Chagas, with vector‑borne infection common in the Americas and congenital transmission the leading route worldwide. He calls on every country to screen all women of child‑bearing age, treat those infected, and test newborns of affected mothers.

"Women are not the problem. They are the heart of the solution," he declares, condemning stigma and emphasizing that early diagnosis and treatment can prevent lifelong complications. He urges universal screening of at‑risk girls and women, and immediate care for infants.

If adopted, these measures could break the intergenerational cycle, reduce disease burden, and move Chagas toward eradication, reshaping maternal‑child health policies across endemic and non‑endemic regions.

Original Description

Dr. Tedros highlights that while Chagas affects an estimated 8 million people worldwide—often transmitted by insects in the Americas—the global reality is that most cases now pass from mother to baby during pregnancy or childbirth. This year’s theme, “Women at the Heart: Protecting the Next Generation,” reframes the narrative: women are not the problem—they are the heart of the solution. WHO calls on every country to screen all at-risk girls and women of childbearing age, treat those who need it, and test every newborn of an infected mother. Together, we can break the cycle, end stigma, and make Chagas disease history.

More information: https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-chagas-disease-day/2026