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Paris Conference to Highlight Vital Research in Fight Against TB, HIV, Asthma, Childhood Lung Disease, Tobacco Use and Air Pollution

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Each year, close to 10 million people die as a result of lung disease – including 3.5 million from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 2.8 million from lower respiratory infections (including 1.2 million children under 5 from pneumonia), 1.4 million from tuberculosis, 1.5 million from respiratory cancers and 0.25 million from asthma. Many of these deaths could be prevented if the appropriate health policies, healthcare systems, funding, diagnostic tools, vaccines and medicines were in place. For example, smoking and exposure to second hand smoke are significant risk factors for lung disease; these risks can be reduced through the implementation and enforcement of proven tobacco control policies.

This year, the conference programme reflects the increasing threats to global health posed by multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and air pollution (cited by the 2010 Global Burden of Disease as one of the top 10 risk factors for health). Speakers will include:

  • Dr Mario Raviglione, Director, WHO Global TB Programme
  • Prof Ross Anderson, WHO Scientific Advisory Committee for the Review of Evidence of Health Aspects of Air Pollution
  • Prof Vincent Jarlier, French National Reference Laboratory for TB
  • Mr Chandra Kishore Mishra, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Health, India
  • Léné Segbo, Minister of Health, Burkina Faso
  • Dr Diane Havlir, Professor of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco & Chief, HIV/AIDS Division, San Francisco General Hospital
  • Dr Douglas Webb, Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP

 

“It is appropriate that the conference is being held in Paris at this critical time, when the spectre of drug-resistant forms of TB is challenging health systems here in Europe, as well as in other parts of the world”, said José Luis Castro, Interim Executive Director of The Union. “The Union World Conference has a proud tradition of providing a forum that encourages contributions from all over the world, because these are global problems with common risk factors and solutions.”

The theme of this year’s conference is “Shared Air, Safe Air?”, highlighting the overarching need to ensure air quality for lung health and the specific challenges created by indoor air pollution, tobacco smoke and airborne infections. Highlights of this year’s conference include:

  • “The challenge of MDR-TB – globally, in Europe, and in France” (World Conference press conference, Wednesday, 30 October 2013, 12:45­–13:45, Room 242B, Palais des Congrès)
  • “Air pollution and lung health” (World Conference press conference, Thursday, 31 October 2013, 12:45–13:45, Room 234–235 M, Palais des Congrès)
  • “Air pollution and asthma” (Sir John Crofton Memorial Lecture at the Inaugural Session of conference), to be delivered by Prof Ross Anderson, Thursday, 31 October, 17:30­–18:15, Grand Amphithéâtre, Palais des Congrès )
  • “Are we winning the battle against HIV?” (Plenary session, delivered by Dr Diane Havlir, Friday, 1 November 2013, 11:30–12:00, Amphithéàtre Bleu, Palais des Congrès)
  • Is MDR/XDR-TB a real threat in India? (Plenary session, delivered by Mr Chandra Kishore Mishra, Friday, 1 November 2013, 12:00–12:30, Amphithéàtre Bleu, Palais des Congrès)
  • “Asthma: the forgotten epidemic” (Plenary session, delivered by Prof Innes Asher, Saturday, 2 November 2013, 11:30 - 12:00, Amphithéàtre Bleu, Palais des Congrès)
  • “Pneumonia in children: still a challenge to child health globally” ” (Plenary session, delivered by Heather Zar, Saturday, 2 November 2013, 12:00 – 12:30, Amphithéàtre Bleu, Palais des Congrès)
  • “What do we know about the TB burden in globally mobile populations? The latest global evidence.”(Symposium, Saturday, 2 November 2013, 14:30–16:30, Room 242 AB, Palais des Congrès)
  • “Economic burden of tuberculosis: study cases and implementation.” (Symposium: Saturday, 2 November 2013, 14:30–16:30, Room 342 A, Palais des Congrès)
  • “Challenges of implementing tobacco control in the context of new tobacco products with a focus on e-cigarettes.” (Meet the Expert Session, Sunday 3rd November 2013, 08:00–09:00, Room 243, Palais des Congrès)
  • “Tobacco control in Africa: successes, obstacles and perspectives.”(Plenary session with 4 speakers, Sunday, 3 November 2013, 11:30–12:30, Amphithéàtre Bleu, Palais des Congrès)