World Chagas Disease Day2026 · Date · History · Messages · Quotes
WHO observance
About World Chagas Disease Day
World Chagas Disease Day is observed on 14 April to increase awareness of Chagas disease and improve visibility for people and communities affected by it.
The World Health Assembly established the day in 2019, and the global community observed it for the first time on 14 April 2020.
Why World Chagas Disease Day matters
Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease, and awareness matters because infection may remain unnoticed for long periods while access to diagnosis and care can be uneven.
The observance is therefore useful for public-health education, reducing stigma, strengthening access to appropriate services and keeping affected communities visible in health planning.
History of World Chagas Disease Day
The proposal for a World Chagas Disease Day was initiated by the International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease and supported by health, research and civil-society organizations.
The Seventy-second World Health Assembly adopted decision WHA72(20) in May 2019, establishing World Chagas Disease Day on 14 April.
The first global observance took place on 14 April 2020. The date recalls 14 April 1909, when Brazilian girl Berenice Soares de Moura was diagnosed by Carlos Chagas in the first documented human case associated with his description of the disease.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease
WHO states that the proposal for a World Chagas Disease Day was initiated by the International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease.
World Health Assembly
World Health Assembly decision WHA72(20)
First documented observance
WHO states that the global community celebrated World Chagas Disease Day for the first time on 14 April 2020.
World Health Organization (WHO)
WHO maintains the global World Chagas Disease Day campaign and public-health materials.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
2 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe World Chagas Disease Day
Use WHO or national public-health sources to explain how Chagas disease is transmitted, prevented, diagnosed and treated without turning general information into personal medical advice.
Invite a qualified public-health or clinical professional to explain locally relevant testing and care pathways where Chagas disease is a concern.
Include the perspectives of people affected by Chagas disease and avoid language that stigmatizes countries, communities or modes of transmission.
Support evidence-based awareness, screening or treatment-access programmes run by competent health authorities and organizations.
Anyone concerned about personal exposure, symptoms, pregnancy, blood donation or treatment should seek advice from an appropriate health professional or local health service.
World Chagas Disease Day Facts
World Chagas Disease Day is observed on 14 April.
The proposal was initiated by the International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease.
The World Health Assembly established the day through decision WHA72(20) in 2019.
For World Chagas Disease Day, the first global observance took place on 14 April 2020.
14 April recalls the date in 1909 associated with the first diagnosed human case described by Carlos Chagas.
World Chagas Disease Day Messages
On World Chagas Disease Day, may awareness be matched by compassion, reliable information and practical support for people directly affected.
World Chagas Disease Day is a reminder to listen without stigma, share trustworthy information and treat every person with dignity.
On World Chagas Disease Day, raise awareness of testing, treatment access and people affected by this often overlooked infection.
Marking World Chagas Disease Day with care means learning from credible sources and making space for the voices and experiences of people most affected.
Today, may World Chagas Disease Day turn attention into informed action, empathy and support that lasts beyond a single day.
World Chagas Disease Day Quotes
“WHO is committed to working side-by-side with all affected countries to increase their ability to prevent, find, report and provide care for every single case.”
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Health Information Not Medical Advice.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
World Health Assembly records — WHA72 seventh plenary meeting (opens in a new tab)
World Health Organization — WHA72.20 World Chagas Disease Day (opens in a new tab)
World Health Organization — World Chagas Disease Day 2020 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
World Health Organization — World Chagas Disease Day: raising awareness of neglected tropical diseases (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is World Chagas Disease Day?
14 April The documented recurrence rule is: 14 April.
Does World Chagas Disease Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is World Chagas Disease Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: WHO / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes World Chagas Disease Day?
The reviewed sources identify World Health Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as World Health Organization (WHO).
Is World Chagas Disease Day international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: WHO / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
Why is World Chagas Disease Day on 14 April?
WHO connects the date with 14 April 1909, when the first patient associated with Carlos Chagas’s description of the disease was diagnosed.
When was World Chagas Disease Day established?
The World Health Assembly established it in 2019 through decision WHA72(20), and the first global observance was held in 2020.
Can this guide tell me whether I have Chagas disease?
No. Diagnosis and treatment require qualified medical assessment and appropriate testing.
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