The Union is actively calling for members to renew their commitment to the organisation in a year that promises to be one of the most significant in its history.
In a letter to stakeholders, Dr E Jane Carter, President of The Union, said, 'In 2016, all of us working in public health will begin work on the new agenda outlined in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At this exciting time, we hope we can count on your continuing participation and support.'
Prof Simon Schaaf of South Africa, who was granted Honorary Member status at the 46th World Conference in Cape Town last year, describes his first experiences as a Union member:
'I attended my first Union Conference in Mainz, Germany, in 1994 because of my interest in TB and became a Union member in 1999. I joined what was the Respiratory Disease section back then, which became the Lung Health section, and which is now the Adult and Child Lung Health (ACLH) section.
'I have served as Secretary, Programme Secretary and Chair of the ACLH section for the past 10 years.'
Describing what Union membership means to him personally, Prof Schaaf says,'As academics and clinicians, we constantly seek people on an international platform that work in the same area, to discuss current developments, to collaborate. There is no substitute for this. For me, The Union is such a place – a place of friends and colleagues with mutual interests and common goals.
'It would be great if more people join this organisation which is so sincere in its efforts to improve the health of people in poor and middle-income countries and, by doing so, extend our global knowledge, while creating powerful networks of friends and colleagues.'
More information about Union membership can be found here: http://www.theunion.org/get-involved/join.
The title of Honorary Member is granted to a person who has given exceptional service through active participation in The Union's activities.