The UnionThe Union

The mission of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) is to bring innovation, expertise, solutions and support to address health challenges in low- and iddle-income populations. With nearly 10,000 members and subscribers from 152 countries, The Union has its headquarters in Paris and regional and country offices serving the Africa, Asia acific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and South-East Asia regions. Its scientific departments focus on tuberculosis, HIV, lung health, tobacco control and research.

The Union is best known today for the research that led to the global strategy for treating and controlling tuberculosis. Adopted by the World Health Organization in 1993, The Union model s part of the internationally recommended Directly Observed Therapy Short Course strategy (DOTS), which was expanded in 2006 into the broader Stop TB Strategy. Drawing on this first uccess in addressing TB from medical, political, social and organisational perspectives, The Union has since developed programmes for the management and treatment of TB-HIV, asthma nd pneumonia in children under five years of age; and it is now working to control tobacco use.

Projects that illustrate the breadth of The Union’s work:
  • The Laboratory Strengthening Programme concentrates on strengthening national tuberculosis laboratories and creating regional reference laboratories.  It provides technical assistance and conducts training and operational research to improve key TB diagnostic services, with the main focus on smear microscopy. Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
  • TREAT TB (Technology, Research, Education and Technical Assistance for Tuberculosis) is a new USAID Cooperative Agreement awarded to The Union and its partners to undertake a comprehensive programme of research related to tuberculosis. The Agreement for up to US $80 million over five years will focus on both centrally led research efforts and country-specific research funding and support. Funded by USAID.
  • The Technical Assistance to Fight Tuberculosis project focuses on French-speaking countries in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo and Togo. A Union team visit twice a year to supervise and review progess. The Union also conducts both international courses and short training courses designed for this region. The project also funds translation of scientific publications and other resources into French .Funded by the Agence Française de Développement.
  • The TB Control Assistance Program (TB CAP) is USAID’s centrally funded project supporting the implementation of the international Stop TB strategy. TB CAP activities are coordinated by The Union in DR Congo, Mexico, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The Union acts as a collaborating partner in other countries as a member of the Tuberculosis Coalition for Technical Assistance, which oversees TB CAP. Funded by USAID.
  • The Integrated HIV Care for Tuberculosis Patients Living with HIV/AIDS (IHC) Programme is operational in Benin, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), Myanmar, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Funded by the European Commission, Ligue Pulmonaire Suisse, USAID and the Yadana Consortium operated by TOTAL.
  • The Bloomberg Initiative activities include a grants programme that gives competitively awarded grants to develop and deliver high-impact tobacco control interventions in low- and middle-income countries and a series of courses to build the capacity of tobacco control organisations. Funded by the Bloomberg Philanthropies through a grant managed by the World Lung Foundation.
  • Comprehensive Approach to Lung Health looked at lung health from an interrelated and holistic perspective. The project focused on asthma, child lung health and smoking cessation in Benin, China and Sudan. Funded by the World Bank.
  • The Child Lung Health Programme in Malawi has reduced the pneumonia case fatality rate in children under five by more than 50% since 2000. Funded by the Scottish Government and The Union with initial funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
  • Asthma Drug Facility is a procurement mechanism that makes it possible for low- and middle-income countries to obtain quality-assured asthma medicines at affordable prices. Funded by The Union Constituent and Organisational Members.
Each year, The Union is active in more than 75 countries

Recent activities include:

  • Technical assistance projects in 43 countries
  • Educational activities and training courses in 30 countries
  • Research projects in 18 countries, including TB treatment clinical trials in 12 countries
  • The 40th Union World Conference on Lung Health in Cancun which drew 1800 delegates to attend 100+ sessions and discuss the theme of poverty and lung health
  • Region conferences in the Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe and North America regions
  • Publication of the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD), technical guides other educational materials

By providing leadership and expertise in global lung health, The Union is committed to helping countries achieve the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals for 2015.

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