>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
Experts call for the gap to be closed on chronic respiratory diseases: launch of new journal to address inequity
World leading lung health experts are calling for greater coordinated action to reshape the global response to chronic respiratory…
A reflection on 2025
Uniting the lung health community in Copenhagen and New Delhi
Despite devastating global funding cuts and geopolitical turmoil,…
Using “7-1-7” timeliness metrics and TB survivors to enhance uptake of household contact screening and management
New study examining the role of trained TB survivors to support community-level activities, as part of the 7-1-7 timeliness approach has published in BMJ Open. This study was conducted within India’s National TB Programme across the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
The Union statement on ongoing conflicts and the impact on health services
The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease is deeply concerned by ongoing violent conflicts, and their increasing…
The Union response to WHO Global TB report 2025
Prof Guy Marks, President of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union)
“It is important to take…
The Union Launches Two Free Online Courses on Tuberculosis
Global efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) face increasing challenges, including funding constraints and the need for scalable training solutions. In response, The Union has launched two new free online courses to strengthen the skills of health professionals worldwide. Both courses are self-paced, fully online, and designed to support clinicians and programme managers in improving TB diagnosis and management.