ORGANIZATIONS IN ARGENTINA
Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr. Mario Fatala Chaben"
Avenida Paseo Colon 568, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1063
Tel 011-54-114-331-4010
Attn: Dr. Andres Ruiz, Director
aruiz@interlink.com.ar
This is the main government research institution. It is located in Buenos Aires. They not only perform basic and applied Chagas research, but also have a free diagnostic and treatment clinic. On a given day, dozens of people line up outside their doors to get tested or try to get medicine.
Hospital de Niños "Ricardo Gutierrez"
Gallo 1330, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1425
011-54-114-962-9247
Attn: Dr. Hector Freilij
freilij@uolsinectis.com.ar
This is where Dr. Hector Freilij (the orchestra director in the film) and his staff work with pregnant mothers and children. It is recognized internationally as a leading research center for congenital Chagas.
Hospital de Pediatría "Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan"
Pichincha 1890, Buenos Aires, 1425 Argentina
Att: Dra. Patricia Paulin
011-54-114-308-4300
ppaulin@garrahan.gov.ar
The leading pediatric hospital in Argentina, it sees many cases of Chagas in children every year. Dr. Patricia Paulin is a biochemist there who is dedicated to helping those who are ill.
Project "Living Without Chagas"
Avenida Belgrano y Alvear, Aniatuya, Santiago del Estero 3760, Argentina
011-54-384-442-1037
Attn: Crescencia Lopez
caritasanatuya@arnet.com.ar
A wonderful Spanish woman, Crescencia Lopez, moved to the desert of Santiago del Estero many years ago, and she has taken on the fight against Chagas. Under the umbrella of Caritas, the local church charity organization, she recruits unemployed people and trains them to fight against the insect. Her organization also provides testing and treatment. She recently lost her funding from a private Argentine foundation.
Molinos Regional Hospital
Molinos, Salta, Argentina
011-54-386-849-4014
Attn: Dr. Cesar Vazquez
cesarvaz03@salnet.com.ar
This is the home of Dr. Cesar Vazquez, one of the main characters of the film, and our guide in the mountains of northwestern Argentina and among the Indian communities in the great Chaco forest of South America. His hospital is small but well-kept, and could use your help.
Experimental Pathology Institute
Salta National University,
Avenida Bolivia 5150, City of Salta, Salta 4400 Argentina
011-54-387-425-5333
Att: Dr. Miguel Angel Basombrio
basombri@unsa.edu.ar
Dr. Diego Lacunza works here, and he appears in the film speaking about the pharmaceutical companies. This is a wonderful organization that both performs research and treats patients with Chagas.
Hospital del Carmen
Jose Ignacio Sierra 610, Metan, Salta, 4440 Argentina
011-54-3876-420-461
Attn: Dr. Jose Luis Medrano
josemedrano@arnet.com.ar
The small town of Metan is near where I grew up, and the home of my friend Osvlado Toscano, who has chronic Chagas. The PROCEC program there tracks mothers who are infected, and checks that their children receive treatment. The hospital is run by some of the hospital staff on their own time, and with their own money.
San Bernardo Hospital
Tobias 69, City of Salta, Salta 4400 Argentina
011-54-387-432-0300
Attn: Dr. Federico Nunez Burgos
fnunezburgos@arnet.com.ar
Dr. Federico Nunez Burgos is a pioneer in the installation of pacemakers in Chagas patients with cardiac symptoms. His work has helped many of those who are sick live a longer and more productive life.
Fundacion Adobe
El Salvador 4656,
Buenos Aires, Argentina
011-54-114-833-5111
Attn: Ricardo Paz or Belen Carballo
bcarballo@arteetnicoargentino.com
Although this organization does not directly address Chagas, they perform a valuable service by training poor peasants in Santiago del Estero Province in skills such as weaving and furniture making. They also pioneered the use of local building materials to provide affordable, yet safe housing that is less likely to be infested by insects. |
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ORGANIZATIONS IN EUROPE
Inmunology Department
Pasteur Institute
25 Rue du Dr. Roux, Paris 75724, France
011-33-1-456-8816
Attn: Dr. Paola Minoprio, PhD
pmm@pasteur.fr
Dr. Paola Minoprio, an energetic Brazilian woman, and her staff, are on the cutting edge of research to develop a vaccine against Chagas.
Faculte de Medecine
Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Route de Lennik 808, Brussels 1070 Belgium
011-34-2-555-6255
Attn: Dr. Yves Carlier
ycarlier@ulb.ac.be
Dr. Yves Carlier and the researchers in his lab are one of the most important centers for the study of congenital Chagas.
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE US
University of Virginia Health System
PO Box 800662
Charlottesville, Virginia 22908-0158
USA
434-982-1414
Attn: Dr. John M. Dent, MD
jmd5k@virginia.edu
Drs. John Dent and Rajan Patel were instrumental in finding the first Chagas patients that I was able to interview in Virginia.
Olde Towne Medical Center
Olde Towne Medical Center
5249 Olde Towne Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188
757-259-3252
Attn: Executive Director Judy Knudson
judyk@james-city.va.us
Olde Towne Medical Center (Tax ID Number: 54- 1663905) is a community-based, non- profit, rural health center providing primary health and dental care to the uninsured and under- insured, Medicaid and Medicare population living in the greater Williamsburg, Virginia area.
This is where I met Dr. Richard Johnson, who in turn introduced me to Lorenzo Colocho, the young man from El Salvador who died from Chagas during the filming. Lorenzo’s family, and Olinda Contreras were tested at this facility.
Olde Towne provides care to more than 1,100 patients each month through its medical clinic, dental clinic, and family health care van. |