PECET: the leader program for the treatment of tropical diseases

According to the Colombian Institute for Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies – IDEAM – our country consists mostly of moist warm soils which not only favors wildlife biodiversity but also tropical diseases that are prevalent in tropical or suptropical regions. Tropical diseases are mainly transmitted by mosquitoes that feed on blood and infect people by biting them as they transmit parasite and viruses coming from infected animals.

Malaria, leishmaniasis, dengue fever and Chagas disease are the most common tropical diseases in Colombia, which are also considered as a public health problem requiring prevention and control.

University of Antioquia’s PECET is a leader project for the treatment, prevention and control of tropical diseases, which for 25 years has covered affected areas across the country.

According to PECET director Iván Darío Vélez, as these diseases affect mainly the poorest people in tropical regions there is no concern of neither pharmaceutical laboratories nor the countries with other ecological features since they don’t consider tropical diseases as a major threat. However, countries like Brazil, Thailand, Taiwan and Colombia invest significant resources in research and control of these kinds of diseases.

Currently PECET is one of the leading research groups focused in leishmaniasis which also identified sources of infection that are mainly those areas with presence of vectors such like insects, mosquitoes, infected animals and bacteria, as well as reservoirs. PECET is also developing in vitro studies as well as vaccine trials, patient care projects, and research in pathology and ecosystems. On the other hand, PECET also serves as a training and technology center at the World Health Organization in Central America. WHO has sponsored PECET since 1989.

PECET is now focused in conducting trials for leishmaniasis vaccine, which is a great achievement, says PECET director Iván Vélez. Also PECET has almost finished the first phase of dengue fever vaccine and continues to provide training for the prevention of tropical diseases.

According to results and because of technological and medical advance “now more people are aware about the impact of tropical diseases, meanwhile we continue to develop new treatment schemes” explains Dr. Vélez.

In 2005, PECET issued an educational booklet intended for the Colombian Army as this institution has a large number of tropical diseases victims. In 2010, PECET published a
guide for the diagnosis and control of leishmaniasis in Central America. A recent study about climate change impact on tropical diseases allowed PECET to design mathematical patterns for the prevention of diseases under specific conditions.

PECET joins Expouniversidad 2011 through an exhibition of the results of research work that allowed PECET becoming a leader program committed to the health and welfare of people.