Child lung health has been a priority for The Union for the past 15 years. In addition to developing a method to improve the care and outcome for children under five years of age with pneumonia, The Union has supported the development of guidelines for management of child TB, TB-HIV, HIV-related lung disease and asthma.
Much of this work featured in a special session at the Union World Conference on Lung Health, entitled A Breathless Child: Calling Time on Childhood Deaths from Asthma and Pneumonia.
In addition, The Union actively participates in numerous global alliances, including the Stop Pneumonia initiative to address lung health challenges facing low- and middle-income populations.
The Union’s Strategic Plan for Lung Health 2020–2025 has two broad themes: lung health across the life course; and lung health and well-being after TB.
Looking ahead, specific goals from the plan include:
GOAL 4: To reduce the burden of chronic lung disease and respiratory infections among people living in poverty and people living in low- and middle-income countries
GOAL 5: To advocate for, and to assist others to advocate for, the policies and actions that contribute to improved lung health globally with a particular focus on people living in poverty and people living in low- and middle-income countries.