(Re)Thinking Complex Health Problems from a Multidimensional Approach: Chagas Disease in Argentina and Beyond

Chagas disease is frequently referred to as the effects that the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi has on people's health. However, the biomedical and epidemiological aspects, most frequently addressed, are just some pieces of this complex puzzle. Social, environmental, economic, political, cultural, and educational elements are essential in comprehending the magnitude of the problem without stigmatizations. From these reflections, I will share aspects of a 'kaleidoscopic' perspective that aims to promote joint work between different social actors, in a great diversity of contexts, with the purpose of getting more and more voices talking about Chagas. About the Lecturer: Dr. Sanmartino (PhD in Education Sciences) is a biologist and a specialist in Social Sciences and Health in Epistemologies of the South. She works as a researcher for the National Board of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) in the Grupo de Didáctica de las Ciencias (La Plata, Argentina) and is the founder and coordinator of the group ¿De qué hablamos cuando hablamos de Chagas? (What do we speak about when we speak about Chagas?). The guiding thread of her career is the search to understand Chagas disease from an integral perspective and, at the same time, highlight the role of education and communication as key tools to address this complex issue.