>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
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.
Empowering healthcare workers to combat childhood tuberculosis: A milestone in the fight against tuberculosis in Lesotho
The Union’s Sub-Saharan Africa Region Child and Adolescent TB Centre of Excellence (COE) in collaboration with U.S. Centers for Disease…
Managing household contacts of individuals with rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis
In the last ten years, the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-…
Conflation of prediction and causality in the TB literature
A forthcoming IJTLD OPEN article addresses the frequent conflation of prediction and causal inference in observational TB studies, and outlines practical recommendations to enhance research precision and transparency.
Tobacco control treaty compromised by global disruptions
According to a new report endorsed by 57 civil society organizations worldwide, the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on…
Navigating the changes to drug-resistant TB treatment, care and diagnosis
The Union is the leading scientific organisation in tuberculosis (TB) and lung health, with expertise across all forms of TB, including…
International Nurses Day 2025
On 12 May, The Union celebrates the vital role nurses play in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) and lung disease, which…
New Paper Calls for Nutrition to Be Part of Everyday Health Care in Lower-Income Countries
A new report published in The Lancet Global Health is shining a spotlight on a major gap in health care across low- and middle-income…
Union Board of Directors election update
Bess Miller
Bess is a physician and epidemiologist, who has held senior leadership positions at the US Centers for Disease…
US funding cuts negatively impact TB care and prevention across Africa
According to a rapid survey conducted by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), 65% of National TB…
Engaging Communities Affected by TB as Essential Partners in Research
The Union has always been interested in and has promoted communities affected by tuberculosis (TB). The most notable example is the time…
Incarceration and Tuberculosis notifications during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe and the Americas
A new study has identified lower than expected tuberculosis notifications in prisons across Europe and the Americas during the COVID-19…