SOCOMUN XXIV
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
Chagas Disease
Hello delegates, my name is Daniela Leon, and I will be one of your co-chairs for
this year’s SOCOMUN conference! I am senior this year, have been in MUN all four
years, and have been a part of the SOCOMUN secretariat since sophomore year. Also in
sophomore year, I attended a conference at Berkeley University, and this year I will be
attending a conference in Panama. I really like MUN because it has helped me develop
great public speaking skills and leadership abilities. It has been a great way to meet new
people from all over the world and it has brought to light all of the issues that are
plaguing our world. It is really cool to hear issues on the new or in conversations and be
able to get involved and share your ideas on the subject. My favorite committees are
UNICEF and WHO, but I am always going into different committees so I can see all the
different issues we have to face as a community today. I am in Advanced Dance at
SMCHS and am in all of the department’s shows, and I am a competitive dancer with a
studio outside of school.
I really hope that SOCOMUN will be a great experience for all of you, and I hope
that it will encourage you to continue in MUN. We will be discussing the topic of Chagas
disease as our main topic, and if we have some extra time at the end of committee we will
move on to our emergency topic which is Tuberculosis. I encourage you all to participate
in committee and during caucus so you can get the most out of this conference. If you
have any questions about the committee, the topic, MUN, or anything else, feel free to
email me at [email protected] anytime! I can’t wait to see you all in committee!
Background:
Chagas, or Trypanosoma cruzi, is a very serious and life threatening disease that
is not well known, but can be compared to diseases such as malaria and cholera as it is
caused by the protozoan parasite and transmitted through insects. It has infected around
seven million people, and its seriousness is exemplified as the disease claims 12,500 lives
each year. The disease was first seen in humans in 1909. It would take another ninety
years before the disease properly recognized and treatment instigated through
organizations such as Doctors Without Borders. Unfortunately, many cases remain
undetected and improperly treated, resulting in fatal damage to the heart, digestive
system, and nervous system. Cases are most common in the southwestern United States,
Central America, and Latin America.
The disease itself has two stages: acute and chronic. Even with modern medical
techniques, both stages of Chagas is very difficult to detect. During the acute stage of
Chagas, minute symptoms include: body aches, inflammatory skin chamogas, fatigue,
and vomiting. It is very difficult to detect in this stage because it closely resembles the
symptoms of many other pathogens. After going through the acute stage, Chagas enters
into the chronic stage. In this stage, symptoms can include constipation, digestive
problems, difficulty swallowing, and abdominal pains. Detection is nearly impossible
because the disease can enter remission and halt all symptoms for many years. An
important aspect in understanding the disease itself is how it is transmitted. It is a
SOCOMUN XXIV
parasitic disease that is transmitted by the triatomines insect. It is most common in urban
slums across Latin America because the insects live in the walls and roofs of mud and
straw houses. These bugs come out at night to eat, which is when human contact most
likely occurs. This is not however, the only way the disease can be transmitted. It is also
known to be spread through bodily fluid contact such as blood transfusions, organ
transplants, breastfeeding, and in the womb. It has also been recorded to spread through
eating or drinking infected food and water, although very rare, as protozoan parasites can
inhabit these resources.
The biggest issues that come with the disease is diagnosis and treatment. In order
to test for the parasite, doctors need to do at least three blood tests, but thee tend to be
expensive, hard to acquire, and sometimes inadequate and inaccurate. It is also difficult
because it needs to be treated in the acute stage, and a person can contract the disease
again even after treatment. Another issue is the controlling of the vector. In this case, the
vector is the disease carrying insect, and it is very hard to control their population,
making it even more difficult to successfully treat those infected with the disease and
lowering the chances of being infected again.
Possible Solutions:
All these solutions are being provided to help you begin forming your own
solutions. While you can use these, I encourage you to create your own solutions so you
can be more involved during committee. Please make sure that your solutions go along
with your country’s policy, and that you do not contradict what you are proposing (for
example, if your country is against the death penalty, you cannot propose to use the death
penalty at any time during committee). Additionally, funding shall not be an issue
because PAHO will cover costs, but finding organizations such as Doctors Without
Borders can help bolster solutions.
A solution that can be proposed is the continuation of researching Chagas disease
and its treatments. Continuing research projects such as Chagas Implementation of
Research Project, or CIRP, can greatly contribute to finding a quick and effective
treatment of the disease. It can also be used to further public awareness on the Chagas
disease and its causes, effects, and treatment. It would be a great way to spread the
information to the general populace, especially those who underestimate the issue to its
full extent. It can also be helpful to extend the information to those in the public that are
impoverished and need the extension to learn the dangers they are in.
This solution can be further expanded through the partnership of existing NGO’s ,
which will help countries work together and advance aspects of global awareness, disease
research, treatment research, and different rural and urban treatment techniques.
Another solution that could be proposed is the use of alternatives that are
effective, safe, and non-toxic. This would be encouraged, but while these new
alternatives are found, it is highly encourages that the uses of Nifurtimox and
Benznidazole are continued. This along with the endorsement of more permanent and
mobile health care clinics would help maximize the treatment and make it more available
to people living in urban and rural areas.
SOCOMUN XXIV
Questions to consider:
The following questions are provided for you to think about while you do your research.
You do not need to specifically answer these questions for the conference, they are here
to help you progress your ideas.
1. What are the main areas in diagnosis and treatment that could use the most
improvement to help find a solution to the disease?
2. What forms of medicine could be produced to more effectively treat the disease?
3. In what ways could we control the vector without causing any harm to the
environment, but still control it enough to make it easier to control the disease?
4. Do you think the means of treatment and diagnosis have a good base and could be
built upon to find a more successful solution?
5. If yes, what changes can we make and how would you implement them?
6. If know, what other forms of treatment would you use and how would they be
more successful than the ones used today?
7. What has been the major issue that has stumped doctors and scientist when
finding a quick and efficient way of treating Chagas?
8. What treatments have worked in the past and how can we continue and progress
off of these treatments?
9. How can we make the means of diagnosis and treatment more available to
everyone (more supply, less expensive, more distribution areas, etc.)?
SOCOMUN XXIV
Works Cited
"Chagas." MSF USA. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/our-work/medical
issues/chagas?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=chagas>.
N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
<http%3A%2F%2Fwww.medicinenet.com%2Fchagas_disease%2Farticle.htm>.
"Chagas Disease (American Trypanosomiasis) ." Chagas Disease (American
Trypanosomiasis). N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
<http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/214581-overview>.
"Chagas Disease (American Trypanosomiasis)." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs340/en/>.
"History." The Chagas Disease Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.chagasfound.org/chagas-disease-info.php?ID=4&t=History>.
"Chagas Disease: Potentially a Life-threatening Neglected Tropical Disease." WHO.
N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.who.int/chagas/en/>.
"Detailed FAQs." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, 19 July 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/chagas/gen_info/detailed.html>.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
19 July 2013. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/chagas/>.
Tarleton, Rick L. CHAGAS DISEASE IMPACT AND OPPORTUNITIES: BEYOND
THE HISTORICAL DOGMA. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 20
Apr. 2015. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK62523/>.
"Chagas." - DNDi. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 Apr. 2015. <http://www.dndi.org/diseases
projects/diseases/chagas.html>.
SOCOMUN XXIV
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
Tuberculosis
Background:
Tuberculosis, or also known as TB, is a major problem worldwide. The World
Health Organization announced that tuberculosis, second to HIV/AIDS, as one of the
most infectious diseases on the planet. In 2013, 9 million people were infected and 1.5
million died of the disease, 95% of these fatalities occurring in low-income countries.
Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that can attack any part of the body, but is most
commonly known to attacks the lungs. Its symptoms include cough with sputum and
blood at times, chest pains, weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. Tuberculosis is
an extremely infectious airborne disease that is spread from person to person.
Transmission occurs when a person with tuberculosis coughs, sneezes, laughs, sings, or
even talks, because it causes TB to enter the air. After contact with infected air or another
infected person, another acquires the disease, however repeated close contact is necessary
for transmission. It is important to note the difference between being infected with TB
and simply having the disease present in the body. A person who is infected with the TB
has a high quantity of the infectious bacteria in their body, displays symptoms, and is
capable of spreading the disease. TB can be present within the body and not display any
symptoms. It is important to note that about one-third of the world's population has latent
TB, which means people have been infected by TB bacteria but are not (yet) ill with the
disease and cannot transmit it. Anyone with the disease present should consult a doctor
immediately and receive treatment as soon as possible. 37 million lives were saved by
proper diagnosis and treatment between 2000 and 2013. However, the overuse of
antibiotics when treating the disease has led to the development of a multidrug resistant
strain of TB known as MDR-TB. 480,000 contracted this strain in 2013, making it very
difficult to combat. However, some cases are effectively treated due to proper immune
response. When combined with HIV/AIDS, it can result in a fatal combination which
result in an increase of the progress of both pathogens. 25% of HIV-positive patients are
TB related. Cases are concentrated in 22 nations and with improving health care facilities
coupled with WHO’s support, the number of reported TB cases are slowly declining.
Possible Solutions:
All these solutions are being provided to help you begin forming your own
solutions. While you can use these, I encourage you to create your own solutions so you
can be more involved with the topic and during committee. Please make sure that your
solutions go along with your country’s policy, and that you do not contradict what you
are proposing (for example if your country is against the death penalty, you cannot
propose to use the death penalty at any time during committee). All costs, again, shall be
covered by PAHO.
A solution that can be proposed could be the support of NGO’s and research
projects/programs so they can continue their research on tuberculosis and its different
treatment means.
Spreading awareness of the disease so the general public understands the
seriousness and the consequences that comes with this disease. Many people don’t know
SOCOMUN XXIV
or understand how this disease is the second greatest killer, so we need to find ways to
distribute this information to people all over the world. In developed nations, the use of
media can be very influential and educational. In under developed nations, the UN can
send teaching seminars about diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS so that
poverty stricken people can have access to information about the diseases and their
treatments.
Another solution that could be promoted is the implementation of more
permanent and mobile health care centers. These would open up more availability of
treatment and its options to those living in urban slums and impoverished areas. They
would provide health care in all forms but most importantly in treatment for diseases such
as tuberculosis.
Questions to Consider:
The following questions are provided for you to think about while you do your research.
You do not need to specifically answer these questions for the conference, they are here
to help you progress your ideas.
1. What have been the major causes of the tuberculosis disease spreading?
2. Why are have some people’s bodies adapted and learned to fight against TB,
causing most people who have been infected by the disease not be affected?
3. How can we have more availability of treatment centers and of treatment itself so
all people can have fair access and be able to be healed?
4. How can we reduce the disease’s efficiency in spreading through the air?
5. What NGO’s have been working to help this issue, and how are they doing so?
6. Have they been making progress? If so, how can we implement this on a global
scale to advance as a community?
7. What NGO’s can be partnered together to be even more efficient in finding a
solution and how?
8. What out of the box solutions can you come up with to solve this issue? (Be
reasonable and logical in your solution, but try to be unique! Use your knowledge
and critical thinking)
SOCOMUN XXIV
Works Cited
"Background Information - Tuberculosis - Infectious Diseases Prevention, Control &
Outbreak Management - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit."
Background Information - Tuberculosis - Infectious Diseases Prevention, Control
& Outbreak Management - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit.N.p.,
n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.healthunit.org/infectious/tb/tb_background.htm>.
"National TB Indicators Project: Initial Indicators and Performance Targets." Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 01
Sept. 2012. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.cdc.gov/tb/programs/evaluation/indicators/background.htm>.
Greenland, Sander. "Putting Background Information about Relative Risks into
Conjugate Prior Distributions." Biometrics 57.3 (2001): 663-70. Web.
"Background and Objectives." WHO/Europe |. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/communicable
diseases/tuberculosis/news/news/2010/03/tbhiv-workgroup-meeting-focused
on-europe-and-central-asia/background-and-objectives>.
"History of Tuberculosis." News-Medical.net. N.p., 11 Dec. 2009. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.news-medical.net/health/History-of-Tuberculosis.aspx>.
"CATIE News." Tuberculosis & HIV-background Information. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr.
2015. <http://www.catie.ca/en/catienews/2012-12-04/tuberculosis-hiv
background-information>.
Rther, Pharmacists Can Assist Other Public And Private Care Providers By
Ensuring Rational Use Of , Anti-‐Tb Medicines And Contributing To
Preventing Emergence Of Drug Resistance. , •, and For Example: Concerted
Efforts In Collaboration With Pharmacists, Pharmaceutical Industry
Pharmacists in TB Control: Their Current Role (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
"TB Background Document: New Faces of an Old Disease." TB Background Document:
New Faces of an Old Disease. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.msfaccess.org/content/tb-background-document-new-faces-old
disease>.
"Tuberculosis (TB)." Tuberculosis in History. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/tuberculosis/understanding/history/pages/de
ault.asp>
National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions (UK). Introduction. U.S. National
Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.
<http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0046799/>.