The Inaugural Session of the 45th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Barcelona featured calls to action in the fight against TB from Nick Herbert, MP and chair of the UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group on Global TB, South Africa Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi and Dr Harsh Vardhan, India’s Minister of Health and Family Welfare, as well as longtime TB-HIV advocate Ria Grant of South Africa and a group of activists from the Treatment Action Group (TAG) demanding that governments and other funding agencies “Cough up cash for TB!”
As if to underline the long history of tuberculosis, the programme’s entertainment segment offered music with a link to TB, including arias from the 19th century operas, La Traviata and La Boheme. Dr E Jane Carter, President of The Union, and Rajita Bhavaraju, Chair of the Coordinating Committee of Scientific Activities, presided over the well-attended event, which also included the annual awards ceremony.
The following were honoured for their work on behalf of tuberculosis and lung health:
- Dr Jeremiah Chakaya Muhwa (Kenya): Princess Chichibu Global Memorial TB Award
- Dr Maarten van Cleeff (The Netherlands): Karel Styblo Public Health Prize
- Dr Richard Chaisson (USA) The Union Scientific Prize
- Dr Grant Theron (South Africa) The Union Young Investigator Prize
- Dr Julian A. Villalba (Venezuela) The Union / Otsuka Young Innovator in TB Research Award
Performers at the event were sopranos Clare Pierard and Maria Miró, accompanied by pianist David Harper.