The Beat Chagas initiative presents 'Las palabras no dan miedo', a song that aims to overcome silence and fear associated with Chagas disease. The music video, presented this Friday in the Foundation FC Barcelona, has the support of the Department of Neglected Tropical Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) and has been edited and distributed by Sony Music Entertainment Spain and Música Global Discográfica.

"Our goal with this song is that people overcome fear and barriers associated with Chagas disease," explains Dr. Jordi Gómez i Prat, director and producer of the project and doctor and researcher of the Vall d'Hebrón Research Institute (VHIR) and of the International Health Programme of the Catalan Health Institute (PROSICS). In earlier studies, the researcher explains that they observed how "behind the Chagas there is all a stigma that prevents people from going to their medical centres to be diagnosed". Because of this, and the lack of symptoms in half of those affected, it is estimated that in all the world less than the 10% are diagnosed

The song is not only a tool for awareness-raising and spreading, it is also a new comprehensive treatment against Chagas disease. Dr. Pere Albajar Viñas, responsible of the Chagas Disease Control Program of the Department of Neglected Tropical Diseases of the WHO, highlights that "the information, education and communication component of this music video is key to know and make visible the Chagas disease".

'Las palabras no dan miedo' is a new instrument in the framework of the WHO strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals, approved in September of 2015, among which figure the fight against neglected tropical diseases such as Chagas disease. For the WHO, comprehensive treatment, taking into account equally biomedical, psychological and social challenges, is imperative, especially the socioeconomic characteristics of Chagas disease, historically associated with poverty and neglect.

The Beat Chagas initiative was created with the participation of a group of associations of people affected by the disease and institutions, among which is the FC Barcelona Foundation. For the vice president of the organization, Jordi Cardoner, "the power of sport is demonstrated with this initiative, and the club, through its Foundation, shows that it can be a great catalyst to boost awareness about this disease."

The song

Jofre Bardagí and Clara V. Fleck are the authors of the song 'Las palabras no dan miedo' (Words are not scary). Based on the studies presented to them by Dr. Jordi Gómez i Prat, also the artistic producer of the video, Jofre Bardagí explains that they composed a choral song in which "we appeal to potential affected not to look back, to not keep blaming themselves, to fight and remain standing, breaking the silence to win against the Chagas disease."

Jofre gives voice to the song with Argentinian singer Kevin Johansen, Mexican musician Benny Ibarra, the Catalan singer Joan Manuel Serrat, and singer and songwriter Rosario Flores from Madrid. All of them have collaborated altruistically with the Beat Chagas initiative.

A solidary proposal

Sony Music and Música Global Discográfica have wanted to join the project of Beat Chagas to make the song, in addition to an awareness tool, a charitable initiative. In this sense, for each purchase 1 euro will go (which are the benefits of its sale) to research in information, education and communication of the Chagas disease, through VHIR, and dissemination of Beat Chagas materials all around the world. The song is already available on all digital platforms.

The Chagas disease

Also called American trypanosomiasis, Chagas is a disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is transmitted mainly by contact with the feces or urine of a vector insect that feeds on blood, but can also be transmitted through blood transfusions, organ transplants or from mother to child in pregnancy or childbirth. While more than half of infected patients have no symptoms, it is estimated that one third will suffer cardiac involvement and 10% digestive disorders (typically with dilation of the esophagus and/or colon), neurological or mixed.

Due to its morbidity and mortality, Chagas disease has been one of the most important public health problems in Latin America, which in recent decades has been increasingly found in other countries, such as Spain. According to WHO estimates, between 6 and 7 million people worldwide are infected with the parasite, which each year causes the death of at least 7,000 of them. Because of its high prevalence and low diagnosis, WHO considers the Chagas as one of the 18 world NTDs.

Beat Chagas

Under the umbrella of the Chagas Disease Control Program of the Department of Neglected Tropical Diseases of the WHO, Beat Chagas initiative encompasses an interdisciplinary team of actors from the following institutions: the Leo Messi Foundation, the FC Barcelona Foundation, the PROSICS, VHIR, the Ambulatório de Doença de Chagas e Insuficiência cardíaca, PROCAPE, the Federal University of Pernambuco (UPE), the group '¿De qué hablamos cuando hablamos de Chagas?' (CONICET - UNLP - CIIE), the International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease (FINDECHAGAS) and the Chagas Disease Control Program - NTD itself.

The aim of Beat Chagas is to sensitize people, institutions and governments about the complexity of the problem of Chagas. To achieve this, shows and discusses, through a variety of strategies and tools, different aspects of Chagas, focusing on those affected. The tools of the initiative, among which is the video, "are an essential part of the active and comprehensive approach to Chagas disease," says Dr. Jordi Gómez i Prat.

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