Tobacco industry must cease targeting young people in LMICs Message from the Executive Director, 29 May 2020 On this World No Tobacco Day, we find ourselves in an unprecedented time, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though much remains... Read more.
The transformative power of data to diagnose, treat and prevent TB Message from the Executive Director, 29 April 2020 Like many of us in the global health community, I am increasingly concerned by the potential impact of COVID-19 on people... Read more.
“On World TB Day, join me in calling on world leaders to ensure that the political will and funding we are seeing for COVID-19 continues well after this crisis is resolved.” Message from the Executive Director, 24 March 2020 Every... Read more.
COVID-19: "The Union remains committed to fulfilling its mission to provide health solutions to those most at-risk” José Luis Castro, 19 March 2020 As the world adjusts to the realities of the new coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, The Union remains... Read more.
“Our Centennial marks the beginning of a new era for The Union.” José Luis Castro, 15 January 2020 2020 marks the beginning of The Union’s Centennial year, and while this is an opportunity to celebrate our historic achievements, it also... Read more.
Looking back, and moving ahead José Luis Castro, 20 December 2019 Thanks to the commitment and energy of our staff, members and partners, this has been another transformative year for The Union. Working together, we have made progress in our... Read more.
Building on success José Luis Castro, 28 November 2019 Reflecting on the success of the 50th World Conference on Lung Health, I am reminded of how far The Union has come over the past six years since embarking on our... Read more.
India holds the key to ending TB emergency José Luis Castro, 22 October 2019 A week is a long time in politics, and in global health! A week ago, we welcomed the success of the Global Fund replenishment, where concerted... Read more.
Moving Together to Build a Healthier World José Luis Castro, 16 September 2019 On 23 September, The Union is taking part in the United Nations (UN) High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Universal Health Coverage under the banner of ‘Moving Together to... Read more.
People, partnerships and prevention José Luis Castro, 31 July 2019 As we approach The Union’s Centennial and develop our new five-year strategy, I have been reflecting on our movement’s historic achievements, and on what is needed to achieve success now... Read more.
Lung health and well-being after TB: treating – and preventing – long-term health consequences Message from the Executive Director, José Luis Castro Tuberculosis (TB) is curable. In fact, in this past decade, nearly 100 million people have been cured –... Read more.
World No Tobacco Day 2019: A focus on prevention Message from the Executive Director, José Luis Castro On this World No Tobacco Day, 31 May, the global health community is highlighting the far-reaching impact of tobacco use as one of... Read more.
Where does TB fit in the universal health coverage agenda? Message from the Executive Director, José Luis Castro According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least one half of the world’s population does not have complete access to essential... Read more.
It’s time for a breakthrough in TB. The Lancet Commission report, published this week, provides a roadmap for just that. A message from Executive Director José Luis Castro on World TB Day, 24 March 2019 Reading the news of the... Read more.
A human-rights-based approach to breaking down barriers to TB information, diagnosis and care Director's Corner Message, February 2019 Earlier this month was World Day of Social Justice when we are all reminded that everybody has a right to health, regardless... Read more.
There is an urgent need not only for increased financial investment from all sectors and but also for innovative financing mechanisms. A message from the Executive Director, José Luis Castro In February, the spotlight in the effort to end the... Read more.
In 2018, the boundless passion and dedication of our staff, members and partners contributed to historic advances. As we move into 2019, we must continue to push for human-centred responses to global health emergencies and work to ensure world leaders... Read more.
World AIDS Day: Following the lead of the 2001 High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS In the last week, leading up to World AIDS Day on 1 December, I have had the privilege to meet with the communities, staff and volunteers working... Read more.
World diabetes day: calling for action against the co-epidemic of TB and diabetes. A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union – November 2018 In September we saw the United Nations convene High-Level Meetings on tuberculosis (TB) and... Read more.
The health sector can’t end the TB epidemic alone. Time for politicians to make their influence count. A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union – August 2018 At AIDS 2018 in Amsterdam last month, I was struck... Read more.
We must commemorate Nelson Mandela by committing to ending TB and AIDS A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union Nelson Mandela would have been 100 on 18 July 2018. It is truly fitting that this centenary occasion... Read more.
This time, the United Nations High-Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases must deliver A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the world’s greatest threat to health today. They include all cancers, diabetes and other... Read more.
Tobacco: Now is the time to get to the heart of the matter A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union, on World No Tobacco Day 2018 It is well known that tobacco use is a leading... Read more.
Systematic neglect of child TB amounts to human rights violation A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union 23 May 2018 It is both timely and appropriate that, during the 71st World Health Assembly in Geneva, and just... Read more.
Universal health coverage is unobtainable until inequalities around accessing healthcare services are addressed. A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union, on World Health Day Saturday 7 April 2018 is World Health Day, which calls for universal health... Read more.
“The world must re-evaluate its response to TB and give it the status of a public health emergency” A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union This year’s theme for World TB Day is “Wanted: Leaders for a... Read more.
“Before we can eliminate TB, we have to first eliminate the gaps in funding” A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union If we are to end the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic by 2030, then significant investment into... Read more.
"TB is a societal issue. If it is to be eradicated, we must demonstrate its relevance to every single ministry and government department." A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union This week the Executive Board of the... Read more.
We must work together and redouble our efforts to make 2018 a year of major progress in global health A message for the year ahead from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union As 2017 ends we start to look... Read more.
A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union, on World AIDS Day – 1 December On this day, it is important to review why, despite scientific evidence-backed policies and programmes, we are still failing to prevent tuberculosis (TB)-related... Read more.
Global Ministerial Conference in Moscow must deliver multisectoral solutions to fight TB A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union The release, last month, of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report 2017, gave everyone working... Read more.
“We must make governments aware of the urgency of non-communicable diseases – only then will they act.” A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union The world is in the throes of a non-communicable disease (NCD) epidemic. NCDs... Read more.
UN General Assembly Meeting is “critical moment on the road to 2018 TB high-level meeting” A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union As the United Nations’ General Assembly (UNGA) in New York (12-25 September) gets underway, we... Read more.
Quality healthcare should be accessible to the many, not the few. A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union Universal access to good quality, affordable healthcare is core to Goal 3 - ‘Good health and well-being’ - of the... Read more.
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic: Taxes versus Death A message from José Luis Castro The World Health Organization’s Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic (PDF 5.1 MB) published today suggests that if low- and middle-income countries tripled taxes on... Read more.
The Union World Conference on Lung Health as critical as ever A message from José Luis Castro Registration is open for the 48th Union World Conference on Lung Health, taking place in Guadalajara, Mexico, from 11-14 October 2017. If you... Read more.
Tobacco: a threat to development A message from José Luis Castro on World No Tobacco Day The World Health Organization’s 2017 report on the tobacco epidemic in China reveals some truly startling statistics – 200 million lives will be lost to... Read more.
Shaping the future in order to widen healthcare access A message from José Luis Castro at the 70th World Health Assembly This week, 22-31 May, marks the 70th World Health Assembly in Geneva (WHA70) – the annual gathering of the... Read more.
Three critical strategies to impact asthma Asthma is a major noncommunicable respiratory disorder. Globally, it affects more than 300 million people and is the most common chronic disease of childhood, affecting 14 percent of children worldwide. Shockingly, asthma, a manageable... Read more.
“We will not end global TB until we eliminate TB in India.” India’s TB-Free Summit inspires collective action. Last week, I was in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh for the India TB-Free Summit – two days of high-level, high profile events... Read more.
A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union, on World TB Day Global TB community must accelerate progress toward TB elimination. World TB Day (24 March) is an annual reminder that tuberculosis (TB) not only still exists but... Read more.
A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union, on World Cancer Day. As people around the globe unite to mark World Cancer Day on 4 February, it is a timely moment to refresh our collective commitment to the... Read more.
As we begin this new year, we are one step closer in time to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) by 2030 – but how much closer are we to making this a reality? A message... Read more.
Integrated approach critical to ending TB-HIV A message from José Luis Castro on World AIDS Day, 1 December 2016 This World AIDS Day, I want to reflect on why this date is as significant for the tuberculosis (TB) community, as... Read more.
DM-TB – the convergence of two epidemics A message from José Luis Castro for World Diabetes Day – 14 November 2016 Just a few weeks ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) released data for 2015 showing the global tuberculosis (TB)... Read more.
Drug resistance threatens TB progress, as delegates prepare for Union World Conference on Lung Health in Liverpool A message from José Luis Castro Today (13 October), the World Health Organization (WHO) published its annual Global Tuberculosis (TB) Report for 2016. ... Read more.
A message from José Luis Castro Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a scourge of our times. It threatens to reverse progress made in combatting serious disease. It means that previously curable illnesses will no longer be treatable. On 21 September, the... Read more.
Confronting resistance at the 47th Union World Conference on Lung Health A message from José Luis Castro As I write this, we are less than eight weeks from the start of The Union’s annual conference on lung health. Taking place... Read more.
A message from José Luis Castro on World Lung Cancer Day, 1 August Today, on World Lung Cancer Day, we honour and support those among us and across the globe who have been affected by lung cancer, one of the... Read more.
TB-HIV – a conflagration deeply intertwined A message from José Luis Castro for TB2016, Durban, South Africa Between 16-17 July, the International AIDS Society (IAS) will convene the very first tuberculosis (TB) summit, immediately prior to its annual conference, AIDS2016.... Read more.
Refugees and migrants do not cause health crises A message from José Luis Castro for World Refugee Day, 20 June 2016 It is appropriate that World Refugee Day on 20 June coincides with the eve of the 7th Union Europe... Read more.
The Union’s world conference draws on historic legacy to bring collaborative thinking to Liverpool A message from José Luis Castro This week registration opened for The Union’s annual conference on lung health. This is the world’s largest meeting of scientists,... Read more.
President Obama and Prime Minister Modi underline importance of MDR-TB A message from José Luis Castro Last week, President Barack Obama welcomed Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to Washington, DC. During the visit, numerous bilateral commitments were made, some... Read more.
A milestone for the TB community: a message from José Luis Castro Today (12 May), the World Health Organization announced new recommendations for a nine-month shortened treatment regimen for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) patients. Years of research and clinical studies... Read more.
Get ready for plain packaging A message from José Luis Castro for World No Tobacco Day on 31 May 2016 In support of World No Tobacco Day, 31 May, The Union calls on governments around the world to prepare to... Read more.
A message from José Luis Castro on World Asthma Day 2016 Today on World Asthma Day on Tuesday 3 May is a moment to reflect on why lung diseases continue to occupy a place that is considerably lower down the... Read more.
A message from José Luis Castro for World TB Day Last month, US President Barack Obama’s administration proposed a cut of 19% to USAID’s budget to combat tuberculosis. This comes just a few short weeks after the announcement of the US... Read more.
A message from José Luis Castro for World TB Day Last month, US President Barack Obama’s administration proposed a cut of 19% to USAID’s budget to combat tuberculosis. This comes just a few short weeks after the announcement of the US... Read more.
The New Year is a time to look forward to challenges ahead and to reflect on progress made in the previous year. The remarkable achievements of 2016 were testament to our staff and membership who deliver The Union’s life-changing work…... Read more.
The Union North America Region Conference… Enabling global conversations on lung health A message from José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The Union Between 22-25 February, the 21st Annual Conference of The Union North America Region (NAR) assembled in Vancouver, Canada.... Read more.
Dear colleagues, During the recent 68th World Health Assembly in Geneva, I had the opportunity to speak at various side events about the pandemic of non-communicable diseases – and the role of The Union and our partners in the NCD... Read more.
Dear colleagues, As The Union enters its 95th year, I write you with an urgent appeal to join us in revitalising the global fight against tuberculosis. Given the tools we have, many of which were developed by Union members, TB should... Read more.