The Union Achievers is a series of profiles highlighting the outstanding work of individual Union staff, consultants and members around the world. Through their creativity, expertise and dedication, they have made invaluable contributions to public health challenges from TB control to tobacco control - and saved countless lives in the process. They exemplify the values and traditions that have made The Union the extraordinary organisation that it is today – and has been for nearly a century. You can read some of their inspiring stories below:
Htun Htun Aung: HIV patients should not be hidden away as if we bring shame on the community
Myanmar is among the world’s 30 high-burden countries for tuberculosis (TB), multidrug-resistant-TB (MDR-TB) and TB-HIV. Every…
Gustavo Sóñora: Tobacco control is not just public health, it’s about human rights
Twelve years ago Gustavo Sóñora was hired as legal counsel for Miguel Asqueta, the congressman charged with authoring Uruguay’s…
New vaccines, better medications and more political will - the rallying cry of a TB nurse
When Nash Dhalla was seven-years-old she had to flee her home country of Uganda and Idi Amin’s political regime, which saw…
The motorcycle courier, a vital link between community, clinic and laboratory
“I am so proud of the work, because I do a job that helps people to get treated, before they get worse.“
Six years ago…
The doctor behind the data that is saving lives
Valérie Schwœbel has been a medical professional for over 30 years, specialising in data surveillance and epidemiology with a…
Prabodh Bhambal: Singing the praises of Singapore
Juggling the Union’s global finances alongside the role of Deputy Executive Director and now that of Regional Director Asia…
Dr Gan Quan: Reaching critical mass for China’s national tobacco control law
In 2009 when Gan Quan began working for The Union in China, few people had heard of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention…
Monicah Andefa: Successful projects are built on collaboration
Monicah Andefa has been at the centre of some of The Union’s largest projects since she joined the organisation in 2008. With…
Dr Paula I Fujiwara: Heading off the human-made disaster of MDR-TB
Dr Paula I Fujiwara knows all too well what happens when funds for tuberculosis programmes are slashed and systems for TB…
Sarabjit Chadha: Building a civil society campaign to bring TB services to India’s neediest
Dr Sarabjit Chadha leads the largest project The Union has ever undertaken – and it serves the country with the world’s…
Dr Rana Singh: Supporting governments to advance tobacco control infrastructure and prevent industry interference
As a pulmonologist working in India, Dr Rana Singh came across people with lung diseases caused or exacerbated by tobacco use,…
Myra Wisotzky: Empowering people to engage in the health system
Myra Wisotzky chose to work in public health “because it offered an opportunity to empower people to engage in the health…
Dr Fouad Aslam – building collaborative networks to advance tobacco control
‘We know that we are making significant progress because the tobacco industry has really stepped up its game, challenging…
Dr Ignacio Monedero: Sharing knowledge and building capacity to address MDR-TB
Dr Ignacio “Nacho” Monedero likes the challenge of practicing medicine in difficult circumstances. Whether it’s rescuing…
Anne Jones: Advocating for sustainable funding, tobacco control’s next big step
When Anne Jones began working on Australia’s campaign for tobacco control 20 years ago, only a handful of people were involved…
In memoriam: Dr Annik Rouillon, MD, MPH (1929–2015)
Dr Annik Rouillon, MD, MPH, former Executive Director of The Union and one of the foremost leaders in 20th century public…
Claire Verhaeghe: Supporting the members at the heart of The Union
Since 2009, Claire Verhaeghe has been at the centre of building a supportive and efficient programme of services for The Union’…
Honge Liu: Disease prevention is more powerful than cure
Honge Liu was first drawn to disease prevention while studying for her medical degree. Although the course focused on curative…
Edith Alarcon: A champion for TB patients – and the frontline health workers who care for them
Related article: TRIBUTE TO EDITH ALARCÓN ARRASCUE
For more than 20 years, Edith Alarcon has demonstrated the wide…
Matthew Allen: Guiding tobacco control as it goes from strength to strength
In 1999 Matthew Allen was asked to join the New Zealand government’s delegation to the negotiations on the WHO Framework…
Ajay Kumar: Making an impact as a researcher and mentor
In little more than four years, Dr Ajay Kumar has gone from being a participant in one of The Union’s first operational…
Riitta Dlodlo: A leader in TB and HIV, every step of the way
Dr Riitta Dlodlo’s career as a physician in Zimbabwe began in 1982 when HIV/AIDS was just beginning and tuberculosis (TB) was…
Chen-Yuan Chiang: Changing the landscape for TB and lung health
“The Union is a pathfinder. What’s important about our projects is not their size, but how they show the way forward,” says Dr…
The Conference Team: Bringing The Union to the World
For many people around the world, “The Union” is the Union World Conference on Lung Health -- the pivotal event each year for…