The Union's scientific sections and working groups offer members an opportunity to affiliate with others who share the same interests and collaborate on research, publications and projects. One of their principal activities is to propose sessions and contribute to the planning of The Union World Conference on Lung Health, the largest annual conference focusing on lung health issues as they affect low- and middle income populations. They also participate in the governance of The Union through the General Assembly.

 

Examples of recent activities

 

• The TB & Migration Working Group developed a statement adopted by The Union Board of Directors as its official statement on TB Care for the Undocumented. It has since been presented at the European Parliament. Norway and the Netherlands have passed regulations in line with its recommendations. Click here to read the statement.

 

• The TB Control in Prisons Working Group assisted in the development of revised International Guidelines on TB Control in Prisons, which were published in 2009. Click here to download the guidelines. In addition, members coordinated TB in prison symposia at international meetings in Spain and Korea. 

 

• The former Oxygen Systems Working Group compiled a list of relevant publications and technical advice on the importance of effective hypoxia management, especially in managing child pneumonia, and technical equipment advice for oxygen delivery systems and hypoxia detection. Click here to access these resources.

 

• The TB Social Determinants and Ethics Working Group invited articles and obtained funding for a supplement on “Ethics and Social Determinants in Tuberculosis Care and Control”, which is scheduled for publication in a future issue of the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.

 

• The Best Practices for Patient Care Working Group developed a guide to the practical aspects of TB patient care for nurses and allied professionals in low-income countries that has now been published in English, French, Spanish and Russian. Click here to download the guide. 

 

Scientific Sections

 

As a member, you will choose one of the following sections and sub-sections (optional) to affiliate with:

 

• Tuberculosis Section
  • Nurses & Allied Professionals Sub-Section
  • Bacteriology & Immunology Sub-Section
  • Zoonotic TB Sub-Section

 

• Tobacco Control Section
  • Nurses & Allied Professionals Sub-Section

 

• Lung Health Section
  • Nurses & Allied Professionals Sub-Section

 

• HIV Section
  • Nurses & Allied Professionals Sub-Section

 

Working Groups

 

As a section member, you will also be invited to join up to three working groups. Current working groups include:

 

• TB control in prisons
• TB and migration
• TB infection control
• TB social determinants and ethics  
• TB-HIV data management and development
• TB laboratory accreditation
• Best practice for patient care
• Regional mobilisation of nurses & allied professionals
• TB education and training
• Global Indigenous Stop TB Initiative
• COPD in low- and middle-income countries
• Child TB training tools
• Tobacco cessation interventions for tuberculosis patients
• Strengthening NCD prevention through tobacco control
• Countering tobacco industry interference in public health policies
• Getting research into tobacco control policy at regional and country level

 

 

To find out more about sections, sub-sections and working groups and how to get involved, please contact us.