>300,000
tobacco-related deaths each year
145mill
people— 22% of adults —smoke
289,000
estimated TB cases in 2018
Members of The Union Latin America Region
The Union is divided into seven regions to provide a platform for addressing lung health and related issues from a regional perspective. This structure offers members opportunities to network with colleagues who face the same regional challenges and contributes to The Union's deep understanding of local issues.
The Union Latin America Region is made up of organisational and individual members.
The 19th Conference of The Union Latin America Region, took place during the Congress of the Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax, in Panama, bringing together clinicians, researchers, health care professionals, politicians, the media and people affected by tuberculosis (TB).
Organised by Union members, the conference brings together experts to discuss regional approaches to lung health challenges, including TB, lung disease, tobacco control and air pollution.
UNION NEWS FROM THE Latin america REGION
Strengthening TB Response: Union’s 32nd International Course Wraps Up in Cotonou
The Union’s flagship training course on tuberculosis control marked a significant milestone with the successful completion of its 32nd edition in Cotonou, Benin. Bringing together health professionals from across six countries, the course combined online learning with intensive in-person training, reaffirming the Union’s commitment to strengthening TB response through capacity building and international collaboration.
Laboratory strengthening strategies to advance drug susceptibility testing for BPaL regimens in TB treatment
An article in a forthcoming issue of PHA assesses efforts to strengthen drug susceptibility testing in seven countries to support BPaL rollout, highlighting variable capacity and the need for ongoing training and infrastructure.
Financing the future of TB control: from dependence to resilience
An Editorial in a forthcoming issue of PHA highlights how cuts in donor funding for TB threaten progress but also present an opportunity for governments to invest in resilient, patient-centered health systems. The preprint is free to read.
New Chief Scientific Officer joining The Union
The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) has announce its appointment of a new Chief Scientific Officer…
Clean air for blue skies: protecting lungs, protecting lives
Today is the sixth International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, and we are reminded of the invisible crisis surrounding us: polluted…
Union Courses: Empowering TB professionals across the globe
In 2024, Union Courses continued to make a meaningful impact on the global fight against tuberculosis (TB), as confirmed by our latest participant survey. The survey, conducted in July 2025, gathered feedback from learners who completed our online and in-person courses in English, Spanish, or French throughout the year.
Bringing the tobacco control community back together: World Conference on Tobacco Control 2025
The World Conference on Tobacco Control 2025, held in Dublin, Ireland from 23–25 June, brought together 1,300 delegates from around the…
Union members drive prioritisation of pregnant women
The recently published World Health Organization (WHO) call to action and consensus statement about prioritising pregnant and…
Mapping TB with AI brings new hope for surveillance in low-resource settings
A new study has used artificial intelligence (AI) modelling to effectively identify areas with a high burden of tuberculosis in Bangui,…
Innovative approach to TB detection and prevention yields encouraging results in Uganda
An evaluation conducted across six high-volume tuberculosis (TB) clinics in Uganda has shown promising results in identifying and…
Dr Kedar Mehta’s SORT IT journey: recognising the importance of research that has real world impact
Dr Kedar Mehta’s professional trajectory took a significant turn after completing the SORT IT (Structured Operational Research and…
The Union Launches New Online Course in French: “Tobacco – History, Consequences, and Cessation”
The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) is pleased to announce the launch of a new, free online course in French: Tobacco – History, Consequences, and Cessation.