On November 5, the Caminante Sports Center, of Obra del Padre Mario Pantaleo, in the locality of González Catán, was the venue for the project Sports, Childhood and Chagas disease. This is an initiative of Mundo Sano Foundation that aims at raising awareness about Chagas disease through sports and recreational activities, and promoting its diagnosis and treatment.
Participants of the Festival included students and families of the Primary School and members of the Community Area, along with volunteers of INSUD Group, Mundo Sano , Students Center of the Obra del Padre Mario Higher Education Institute, and the Sports Secretary of La Matanza.
“This initiative allows us to transmit a message of hope to those people that are or may become infected with Chagas. This disease can be treated, and more than 90% of congenital cases treated during the first year of life are cured; this is the reason for the importance of an early diagnosis”, Marcelo Abril, chief executive officer of Mundo Sano Foundation highlighted. At the same time, he asserts that “treatment before pregnancy works as a prevention measure to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission”.
During the Festival, children, teenagers and families had the opportunity to enjoy a day of recreational and sports activities, learn values such as solidarity, team work, and fellowship, and, within that frame, they had the opportunity to be tested for diagnosis of Chagas disease in health posts installed on-site.
“We are proud that the Obra is the setting of the first meeting conducted in Buenos Aires province. From the Obra del Padre Mario Pantaleo, we thank Mundo Sano for choosing us to work together with the aim of raising awareness about the diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease”, Carlos Garavelli, president of Obra del Padre Mario Pantaleo, stated.
Background
Sports, Childhood and Chagas disease has been conducted since 2015, when it was first implemented in the locality of Añatuya, Santiago del Estero. In 2016 it was conducted in Juan José Castelli, Chaco province (Argentina); in 2017, it was held in the localities of Muyupampa, Huacareta, and Monteagudo, department of Chuquisaca, Bolivia; and in 2018, in Pa’i Pukú and Presidente Hayes, Paraguay.