BOOK

                      

Plastic art test. Cover of the catalogue evidencing the work drafted 

in  three  lenguages.  Foreword to the book "The Tsetsé Fly. Néstor 

Favre-Mossier-Paintings". 

THE SLEEPING SICKNESS, TODAY.

African Trypanosomiasis, also known as the sleeping sickness, is a disease transmitted to humans by the Tsetse fly. Transmission occurs in well-delimited areas (foci of the disease) in Africa, from the Sahara desert to the Kalahari desert, which is the geographical area where its vector, the Tsetse fly, resides.

In its first stage, the trypanosomes multiply in subcutaneous tissues, blood and lymph. This is known as a first stage or haemolymphatic phase, which entails bouts of fever, headaches, joint pains and itching. In the second stage of the disease, the parasites cross the blood-brain barrier to infect the central nervous system. There is disturbance of the sleep cycle, both during night and day, sensory and motor skills are affected, as well as endocrine and psychiatric disorders. As a norm, the disease results in the patient's death, but a person can be infected for months or even years without major signs or symptoms of the disease, which largely contributes to the new infections through vectors. The Gambiense form of the disease is chronic and the deterioration process leading to death can last up to five years or more. The Rhodesiense form is the acute form of the disease, less adapted to humans, which rapidly produces signs and symptoms of the disease, and results in death, usually within a few months.

There are writings dating as far back as the 18th and 19th century by doctors working in Africa who described clinical syndromes matching those we know today as Sleeping sickness. However, although the signs and clinical symptoms were known, the origin of the disease was not. With the colonial process which begun towards the end of the 19th century, the result was a rapid transmission of the disease, which advanced and decimated local populations. Colonial administrations, worried about the future of their activities, promoted clinical and biological researches to identify the cause of the disease and the transmission mechanism.

Although the number of new cases of the Sleeping Sickness declared annually has fallen below 10,000, for the first time in 50 years, and although during the 2001-2010 period the number of annual cases declared has decreased by 75%; 70 million people are still at risk for some of the two existing forms of Trypanosomiasis (Gambiense and Rhodesiense) with more than 300 foci of the disease in Africa. In order not to lose what has been attained as regards controlling the disease, it is necessary to continue raising the awareness of contributors and sponsors, as well as healthcare agents in countries where the disease is endemic.

Up to this date, there is no protective vaccine against the disease. Cases detection and treatment is still the most effective mean to control transmission of the disease. Therefore, the research work regarding new tools for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease should allow the development of control strategies, in which healthcare systems may be more involved.

Despite the promising results, the control process of the Sleeping Sickness is fragile. The decreased number of declared cases has in turn contributed to a decrease in the awareness of the risk this disease entails to the development of rural Africa. Other health priorities are shifting interest and funds for the control of the Sleeping Sickness, and there is a risk of leaving the control and surveillance of the disease too unattended, which would cause an epidemic of the disease.

This is a historical moment in the fight against the African Trypanosomiasis, and the reason why in 2012 the World Health Organization has declared a target set to eliminate the Sleeping Sickness as a public health problem by 2020, with complete interruption of transmission of the disease by 2030.

In that sense, the committed paintings of Néstor Favre-Mossier, based on his experiences in an area affected by the disease serve as another tool for raising awareness and are a valuable contribution through the unprecedented junction of Art and Science. His work brings us closer to the resulting illness and suffering; it sensitizes us, expresses something true and recreates the intimate self through specific gestures representing an emotion of what has been experienced, inviting us to think about what is yet to be done.

Dr. Pere Perez Simarro. 

In charge of the Trypanosomiasis Control and Surveillance Programme. 

World Health Organization. Geneva, Switzerland. 

Dr. José Ramón Franco Mingell. 

Trypanosomiasis Control and Surveillance Programme. 

World Health Organization. Geneva, Switzerland. 

Prólogo del libro "Tsé-Tsé, la mosca. Néstor Favre-Mossier-Pinturas". Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires. Argentina. Noviembre de 2014.

THE TSETSE FLY. THOUGHTS.

I try to put my ideas together; reflecting on what I've seen and lived so far in each small town I visited in the context of the field research on African Trypanosomiasis (also known as the Sleeping Sickness), to which I was invited. I was shaken by feelings of distress, which got deeper and deeper as we toured the land. At times, I thought nothing could be worse than what I was seeing, until another village proved me wrong. I am not familiar with Chad, since I am barely discovering it, as I walk by through the south region of the country, close to the region of Bodo, about 600 kilometers from the capital, N'Djamena, close to the border Central African Republic border. As far as I could see, I may say it is a region immensely rich in natural resources: everything is within reach. However, in my opinion, as I always think under similar circumstances: the Government is at fault. The nearly complete absence of the government in the region leaves its population in absolute poverty. These people have no human rights guaranteed.

Since my arrival, I hear nothing but claims that the problem affecting Africa is merely a cultural problem. I completely disagree. I understand that for centuries people here have hunted and fished for survival, and that they lived outdoors and that there has never been drinking water, although there is water to spare. However, I find it hard to see kids with huge bellies full of bugs, o people defecating outdoors and then getting up and leaving as if nothing had happened. I also find it hard watching a cow being beheaded in the middle of a town surrounded by people and, as if nothing had happened, bleeding it out, getting its leather and chopping it with an axe. I also find it hard to see the Heads of those towns sitting down aloof while their several wives, with their many children, do all the chores as a community. To sum up: I believe that this is not a cultural problem, but rather what is convenient. Who is it convenient for? The "state", of course. However, we are all part of the State, as I heard many times. No! I think the "State" is formed by a group of "small men" who live and make their families live at the expense of others, who change ideas, political parties and, if necessary or convenient, even their faces. However, they are always at their service. If you do not think that is true, let us revisit the history of mankind, and you will see what I mean.

Well... apart from the huge work being carried out by these healthcare professionals, or all of those who carry out this work daily throughout the world to eradicate the sleeping sickness, I will try to keep up with my work... Oh! And what about the Tsetse fly?, you may wonder. It is just a bug, how can it be at fault.

Néstor Favre-Mossier.

Bodo, Republic of Chad. March 23, 2013.

Text preliminary "The Tsé-Tsé fly. Néstor Favre-Mossier-Paintings". Ville de Buenos Aires. Argentina. November 2014.

CREDITS

Executive Producer: XAaBA. Productions. Work photos: Néstor Favre-Mossier. Photos by Nestor Favre-Mossier: Anonymous authors. Documentary photographs: Néstor Favre-Mossier. Photo retouching:“El Encuadre”. Study and selection of text: Guillermo Torres. English translations: María Cecilia D´Agostino. French tanslations: Ana María Pizza Velazco. Graphic design: Néstor Favre-Mossier. Print settings: Guillermo Torres. Printed by: Artes Gráficas Integradas S.A. Press and communications: XAaBA. Productions. Distribution: “La Logística S/H”. Collaboration: Guillermo Torres, Carlos González Ancarola, Estefanía Botello and Analía Garay.

SOURCES

NELSON MANDELA (1918 - 2013). Fragment of the speech he gave on February 3, 2005 during the 'Make Poverty History' campaign. Translation from: www.elhistoriador.com, www.nelsonmandela.org. South African politician who led the movements against Apartheid. After serving 27 years in prison, he presided the first government administration to put an end to the racist regime in 1994. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Dr. Pere P. Simarro. In charge of the African Trypanosomiasis Control and Surveillance Programme of the World Health Organization (WHO). Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. José Ramón Franco Minguell. WHO's African Trypanosomiasis Control and Surveillance Programme. Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Pedro Albajar Viñas. In charge of the WHO's Chagas Disease Programme. Geneva, Switzerland. Dr. Peka Mallaye. Coordinator of the Republic of Chad's Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis, and accompanying team of professionals. Lantangar Kamata. African guide and interpreter. Bodo, Republic of Chad. Koutou Riguène. Driver for the expedition. N´Djamena, Republic of Chad. Argentine Chancellor's Office.

Printed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. October 2014. Catalogue book with no commercial value and distributed for free.