The 17th Conference of The Union Latin America Region was held on 22 August in conjunction with the Congreso Nacional de Neumologia at the Hotel Las Dunas in Ica, Peru. Close to 250 delegates from Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Dominican Republic and Peru gathered for the regional and national events.
Theme of The Union conference was “Integrated approach to TB, social determinants and comorbidity” with sessions covering multidrug-resistant tuberculosis; TB and comorbidities, such as HIV and diabetes mellitus; TB infection control in health facilities; TB control in large cities; TB in children; TB and smoking; and other related issues. Dr Paula I Fujiwara, The Union’s Scientific Director, was a special guest for the daylong conference and gave a brief overview of The Union’s global and regional scientific activities on behalf of Executive Director José Luis Castro.
Other key Union speakers were Dr José Caminero Luna of Spain, who is head of The Union’s MDR-TB Unit; and lung health experts Dr Ronulfo Vega of Peru and Dr Eduardo Ticona of WHERE who are, respectively, the President and Vice President of the Latin America Region.
In recognition of their outstanding work and research, Dr Paula I Fujiwara and Dr José Caminero Luna were appointed honorary members of the Sociedad Peruana de Neumología during the congress.
The national congress was organised by the Sociedad Peruana de Neumología; while The Union Peru Office in Lima worked closely with members of the Latin America Region to organise their event.
Photo caption: The Union booth attracted many questions -- and new members!