The 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health will focus on human rights when it comes to The Hague, The Netherlands, 24-27 October, 2018.
The conference theme will be Declaring Our Rights: Social and Political Solutions highlighting the essential need for a human rights approach and greater political commitment to eradicate TB and reduce the global threats of tobacco use, air pollution and other lung diseases.
In the announcement at the closing session of the 48th Union World Conference in Guadalajara, José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union, said: “It is truly fitting that, in 2018, our world conference will be hosted by The Hague, a city with a historic tradition of campaigning for social justice. That 1.8 million people die each year from tuberculosis (TB) – a curable disease – is an affront to basic human rights. There is no more appropriate place than The Hague to communicate this point to the world, and demand urgent action.”
The Hague and KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation will host the 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health, 24-27 October, 2018 in The Netherlands.
“TB is more than a clinical condition,” said Kitty van Weezenbeek, Executive Director, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation. “TB thrives where rights do not. People everywhere, no matter who they are, have the right to prevention, treatment and care for TB. We need to accelerate the introduction of new tools and shorter injectable free regimens to reduce suffering and death from drug-resistant forms of TB. The Netherlands has unique expertise and an innovation track record in this field, and the Union World Conference is the perfect platform to share and exchange that knowledge.” As the city of peace and justice, The Hague provides a unique environment to link science, human rights and international policy in the design of public health responses.
A statement from the Municipality of The Hague said:
“We are very proud to host this conference, which is perfectly aligned with the international image of The Hague as the city of peace, welfare and justice.”
The Union World Conference on Lung Health is the world’s largest gathering of clinicians and public health workers, health program managers, policymakers, researchers and advocates working to endcthe suffering caused by lung disease, with a focus specifically on the challenges faced by the low- andcmiddle-income countries. Of the 10 million people who die each year from lung diseases, some 80 percent live in these resource-limited countries.
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Posing to announce the news: Margriet Leemhuis, Ambassador of the Netherlands in Mexico, Dr Jeremiah Chakaya Muhwa, President of the Union, Mr Jose Luis Castro, Executive Director of The union and Dr Kitty van Weezenbeek, Executive Director of KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation