The Hague to host next lung conference focusing human rights

The 49th Union World Conference on Lung Health will be held in the Netherlands capital of The Hague in October next year with a focus on human rights.

Nurul Islam Hasibfrom Guadalajara, Mexicobdnews24.com
Published : 14 Oct 2017, 03:46 AM
Updated : 14 Oct 2017, 03:47 AM

In the announcement at the closing session of the 48th Union World Conference in Guadalajara,The Union Executive Director José Luis Castro said: “It is truly fitting that, in 2018, our world conference will be hosted by The Hague, a city with a historic tradition of campaigning for social justice.

“That 1.8 million people die each year from tuberculosis (TB) – a curable disease - is an affront to basic human rights. There is no more appropriate place than The Hague to communicate this point to the world, and demand urgent action.”

The conference with the theme on ‘Declaring Our Rights: Social and Political Solutions’ will highlight the essential need for a human rights approach and greater political commitment to eradicate TB and reduce the global threats of tobacco use, air pollution and other lung diseases.

The Hague and KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation will host the Conference on from October 24 to27.

“TB is more than a clinical condition,” said Kitty van Weezenbeek, Executive Director, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation.

“TB thrives where rights do not. People everywhere, no matter who they are, have the right to prevention, treatment and care for TB,” she said.

“We need to accelerate the introduction of new tools and shorter injectable free regimens to reduce suffering and death from drug-resistant forms of TB.”

“The Netherlands has unique expertise and an innovation track record in this field, and the Union World Conference is the perfect platform to share and exchange that knowledge.”

As the city of peace and justice, The Hague provides a unique environment to link science, human rights and international policy in the design of public health responses.

A statement from the Municipality of The Hague, said: “We are very proud to host this conference, which is perfectly aligned with the international image of The Hague as the city of peace, welfare and justice.”

The Union World Conference on Lung Health is the world’s largest gathering of clinicians and public health workers, health programme managers, policymakers, researchers and advocates working to end the suffering caused by lung disease.

This conference focuses specifically on the challenges faced by the low- and middle-income countries by sharing science and innovations.

Of the 10 million people who die each year from lung diseases, some 80 percent live in these resource-limited countries.