In an initiative aimed at strengthening prevention and community leadership in the face of one of the most persistent tropical diseases in Latin America, the opening ceremony of the diploma course “Training Leaders in the Comprehensive Approach to Chagas Disease: A Social Participation in Health Perspective” was held on Saturday, March 14 at 7:00 a.m. in the conference hall of the ESE Hospital San Vicente de Chucurí.
The event brought together community leaders, health professionals, and representatives from various social sectors interested in strengthening their knowledge and capacities to address the disease from a comprehensive perspective that combines science, citizen participation, and interdisciplinary work.
During the opening of the diploma course, physician Carlos Corona delivered the inaugural lecture titled “Chagas Disease: Understanding to Prevent,” in which he explained the main epidemiological aspects of the disease and emphasized the importance of education and prevention as key tools for reducing its impact on communities.
For her part, Professor Amanda Amorocho, director of the Regional Observatory for Sustainable Human Development (ORDHS) at UIS, highlighted in her opening remarks the value of this training process as a space for non-formal education that promotes collective learning and social participation.
“This diploma course, from a participatory and interdisciplinary approach, contributes to the prevention of Chagas disease and to the well-being and sustainable human development of the urban and rural population of the municipality,” she stated.
In the same vein, social worker Paola Suárez emphasized the importance of recognizing the personal, family, and community factors that influence the adoption of healthy practices, noting that the fight against Chagas does not depend solely on health services but also on the commitment of communities.
The voices of the participants also reflected the impact of the initiative. One of the attendees noted that the diploma course “creates an environment and a space for all communities, leaders, women leaders, and health personnel to expand their knowledge about Chagas disease.”
Following the opening ceremony, the academic program began with the first session of Module 1: Sociocultural Dimension. In this session, participants explored the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to Chagas disease, as well as the social determinants of health that strongly influence the health–disease process.
The initiative seeks to consolidate a network of trained community leaders capable of promoting prevention, health education, and the transformation of practices in their territories, thereby strengthening the local response to a disease that continues to affect rural and vulnerable populations in the country.
