In April 2021, Argentine Senator Esteban Bullrich was diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). The news was painful, but he refused to let them determine the course of his life and limit him in the pursuit of his work and passion. He expressed this in the letter he wrote to communicate the news:
Inspired by his strength, his family and friends around the world decided to create a foundation to help cure or improve the quality of life of those who, like Esteban, are going through this disease, and thus, move the limits of ALS research in the world, for the benefit of all
The Esteban Bullrich Foundation (EBF) seeks to promote the importance of providing education to all people and develop research on educational challenges and opportunities around the world. In addition, EBF will fund research and innovation for the treatment and cure of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and will provide support to families and those suffering from ALS by helping them access to medical support, research and diagnostic tools.
From the Esteban Bullrich Foundation, we carried out a first report to analyze the current situation of ALS in Latin America. For this purpose, we studied the place that ALS occupies in the public agenda of eighteen (18) countries in Latin America and part of the Caribbean: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.