Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
(New York, NY) World Lung Foundation today announced that it has received a nearly half-million dollar grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support a global conference on lung health. Specifically, the $440,000 grant will be used to bring lung health experts from low- and middle-income countries to the 2008 and 2009 Union World Conferences on Lung Health hosted by the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.
The annual Union World Conference addresses how the lung health community can help identify and eliminate the system-related barriers to effective prevention of lung health threats. The conference also strives to put in place the public health measures and medical care needed for those affected by lung disease.
Conference participants – all experts in tuberculosis, tobacco control, asthma, pneumonia and other lung health issues – hail from various nations including India, Mexico, China, Pakistan, and South Africa.
“World Lung Foundation, through its grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, will help expand the scope and depth of the Union World Conference over the next two years,” said Nils Billo, Executive Director, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease. “We are grateful to both organizations for recognizing the importance of such an event for preventing and managing all manner of lung disease.”
“True advances in global public health are made when experts come together to share and learn about their research and experiences. This is particularly true of lung health, which can be significantly improved through best practices in coordination of case management, public policy and medical research,” said Peter Baldini, Executive Director, World Lung Foundation. “With the support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, World Lung Foundation is making such collaboration and advancements possible on a global scale.”
The 2008 Union World Conference on Lung Health will take place from 16 to 20 October, 2008 in Paris, France. The 2009 event will be held in Mexico City, Mexico.