CFHI’s Chagas program in Tarija, Bolivia provides students an opportunity to learn about an infectious disease that is a major cause of death and disability in Latin America, but which is very rarely seen in industrialized countries. According to the CDC, an estimated 8 to 11 million people in Mexico, Central America, and South America are currently infected with Chagas. It is an infection which is often symptom-free and can be life-threatening if left untreated. Students will participate in prevention and epidemiological programs as well as clinical rotations where they will observe the various manifestations and stages of Chagas infection.
Chagas is an endemic disease in Bolivia, with Tarija having one of the highest prevalence rates in the whole country. The vector that transmits chagas, called a Vinchuca, is a large, beetle-like insect which lives in roof thatching and unfinished walls common in rural and impoverished communities, and is present in 90% of the territory of Tarija. Usually considered a disease of poverty, Chagas affects approximately 70% of the population, causing miscarriages, premature births and low birth weight of children with mothers suffering from this disease. Chagas also produces visceromegalis in the digestive tube and cardiopathy, which can be deadly in many cases. This disease, usually found only in countries with scarce resources, is not well known or studied in developed countries, but due to international migration and population shifts, it has recently been detected in areas where it was previously non-existent.
The health department of Tarija has an infant mortality rate of 53 per thousand births, the most frequent causes of death are preventable diseases. The prevalent pathologies in the area are Chagas or American Tripanosomiasis, malaria and tuberculosis. In more rural areas of Tarija like Yacuiba and Bermejo, dengue and hanta virus cases have also been detected.
CFHI programs offer participants the opportunity to learn more about health issues that transcend national borders, class, ethnicity, and cultural divisions. By participating in CFHI’s global health education you will gain a unique insight into healthcare systems of developing countries and increase your cultural competency. Increasing one's awareness of other cultures (cultural competency) is becoming increasingly relevant for healthcare professionals as industrialized countries become more ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse
Chagas is an endemic disease in Bolivia, with Tarija having one of the highest prevalence rates in the whole country. The vector that transmits chagas, called a Vinchuca, is a large, beetle-like insect which lives in roof thatching and unfinished walls common in rural and impoverished communities, and is present in 90% of the territory of Tarija. Usually considered a disease of poverty, Chagas affects approximately 70% of the population, causing miscarriages, premature births and low birth weight of children with mothers suffering from this disease. Chagas also produces visceromegalis in the digestive tube and cardiopathy, which can be deadly in many cases. This disease, usually found only in countries with scarce resources, is not well known or studied in developed countries, but due to international migration and population shifts, it has recently been detected in areas where it was previously non-existent.
The health department of Tarija has an infant mortality rate of 53 per thousand births, the most frequent causes of death are preventable diseases. The prevalent pathologies in the area are Chagas or American Tripanosomiasis, malaria and tuberculosis. In more rural areas of Tarija like Yacuiba and Bermejo, dengue and hanta virus cases have also been detected.
CFHI programs offer participants the opportunity to learn more about health issues that transcend national borders, class, ethnicity, and cultural divisions. By participating in CFHI’s global health education you will gain a unique insight into healthcare systems of developing countries and increase your cultural competency. Increasing one's awareness of other cultures (cultural competency) is becoming increasingly relevant for healthcare professionals as industrialized countries become more ethnically, culturally and linguistically diverse
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