Chagas disease: an impediment in achieving the Millennium Development Goals in Latin America.
BACKGROUND
Achieving sustainable economic and social growth through advances in health is crucial in Latin America within the framework of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.


CONCLUSIONS
Health-related Millennium Development Goals need to incorporate a multidimensional approach addressing the specific epidemiologic profile for each region of the globe. In this regard, addressing the cycle of destitution and suffering associated with infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, the causal agent of Chagas disease of American trypanosomiasis, will play a key role to enable the most impoverished populations in Latin America the opportunity to achieve their full potential. Most cases of Chagas disease occur among forgotten populations because these diseases persist exclusively in the poorest and the most marginalized communities in Latin America.


CONCLUSIONS
Addressing the cycle of destitution and suffering associated with T. cruzi infection will contribute to improve the health of the most impoverished populations in Latin America and will ultimately grant them with the opportunity to achieve their full economic potential.
Franco-Paredes
Carlos
C
Hospital Infantil de México, Federico Gómez, México DF. cfranco@sph.emory.edu
Von
Anna
A
Hidron
Alicia
A
Rodríguez-Morales
Alfonso J
AJ
Tellez
Ildefonso
I
Barragán
Maribel
M
Jones
Danielle
D
Náquira
Cesar G
CG
Mendez
Jorge
J