The structure and function of the lung
“When filled with their usual amounts of oxygen, carbon dioxide and companion gases, the two lungs take up more room in the human body than any other organ. But our ‘largest organ’ is composed of only about half a litre of tissue and roughly the same volume of blood: all the rest is air—approximately 4.3 l in our model for this article: a healthy 30-year old man, 1.75 m tall and weighing 70 kg. . . “
In his introduction to the April instalment of the 2010 Year of the Lung series published in each issue of the International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease this year, John Murray provides a review on the structure and function of the lung, stating that awareness about lung health “should include some knowledge about how the lungs work”. This article is open access. To download it, click on the following link here.

Join the growing numbers supporting the Year of the Lung 2010 Year of the Lung (YOL) now has 75 official partners as well more than 50 individuals and companies who have registered as supporters. In addition, nearly 2,000 people have joined the YOL Facebook group; and over 80 organisations and individuals are following the campaign on Twitter. Most news items (mostly in the English language) of the campaign are covered in the website’s News and Press section, and each month has seen increasing visibility for the campaign and its goals. If you know of additional organisations in your region that would like to join the campaign, please encourage them to join via the website at http://2010yearofthelung.org/1408-partner-contact.htm or, if they are in the supporter category, at http://www.2010yearofthelung.org/1407-contact.htm

Paris
Experts discuss future of digital radiography as diagnostic tool for TB
In March, TREAT TB sponsored a two-day meeting in Paris that brought together more than 20 experts to discuss the potential of digital radiography as a diagnostic tool for TB control in low-resource, high-burden settings. ?Digital radiography presents an opportunity to address the problems that have limited the effectiveness of the traditional film-based chest X-ray as a diagnostic tool for TB in these settings. Digital radiography, with images that can be transmitted electronically, raises the possibility of radically improving TB detection, diagnosis and treatment. This technology comes with its own requirements, however, and the experts concluded that operational research would be needed to answer key implementation questions. A full report from the consultation is pending.

TREAT TB (Technology, Research, Education and Technical Assistance for TB) is a five-year initiative funded by USAID and managed by The Union. As part of TREAT TB, The Union is leading the Diagnostic Tools Initiative (DTI) which is analysing the potential application of new TB diagnostic tools. Read more. . .

South-East Asia
Engaging Indian media in tuberculosis control
On 22 March 2010, prior to the World TB Day, representatives of the Partnership for TB Care and Control in India and The Union organised a discussion with health journalists on how to strengthen media involvement in India’s tuberculosis control efforts. Media representatives brainstormed with civil society members on strategies, steps and story ideas to expand and sustain constructive reporting on TB and other lung diseases through this Year of the Lung. Ideas that came out of the discussion included the need to create a ‘ripple effect’ between the mainstream, regional and vernacular media. Multiple communication channels, from technical and online sources to easily and locally accessible news services, will be needed to sustain a constant stream of reporting about TB. Further, there is increasing realisation now that a much broader social commitment is needed to fight TB. While civil society’s participation is already growing, the media is an equally crucial constituency and the event sought to identify its long-term role. Read more. . .

China
The Union supports smokefree workplaces in Guangzhou
Guangzhou is working towards passage of the most advanced tobacco control law in China, with help from the Guangzhou Association on Tobacco Control (GATC) and The Union. But the inclusion of workplaces among the public places where smoking will be banned caused widespread debate. To help members of the Guangzhou Municipal People’s Congress (GZMPC) fully understand the importance of this provision, The Union China Country Office arranged for delegates to travel to Beijing to meet with a variety of experts on this issue. Read more. . .

South-East Asia
Indonesia’s Bogor goes smokefree
On 8 March 2010, Bogor City became the second city after Palembang City to go smokefree as part of the ongoing Union-assisted initiative in 18 cities of Indonesia. Bogor is the first to adopt comprehensive smokefree legislation, and the accompanying implementation regulations will go into effect on 31 May 2010. As a result, 1.5 million people will be protected from tobacco smoke.

The new legislation approved by Mayor Diani Budiarto ensures 100% smokefree public places, workplaces and public transport; a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, sponsorship and sales in health, educational, religious, childcare, government and sports facilities; and a ban on cigarettes being displayed at points of sale. The Union played a key role in providing technical support for this initiative. Read More…

Midterm evaluation of IHC activities in Zimbabwe
The Union’s Integrated HIV Care for Tuberculosis Patients Living with HIV/AIDS (IHC) Programme was launched in Bulawayo and Harare, Zimbabwe in 2007, and a midterm evaluation of the programme was performed in January 2010. The main objective of the evaluation was to advise on the future development and implementation of the IHC package in the partner departments and elsewhere in the country. The evaluation team noted that the coverage of HIV/TB services in the two cities was low due to centralised management. They pointed out that it was imperative to provide comprehensive and decentralised HIV and TB services. On the positive site, the TB treatment and 12-month ART treatment outcomes in the IHC pilot clinics were found to be of high quality. There were 1,114 and 359 HIV-positive TB patients enrolled in antiretroviral treatment (ART) in Bulawayo and Harare, respectively. Read more. . .

IMDP programme receives prestigious accreditation
This month The Union was informed that the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) has awarded the International Management Training Programme (IMDP) the prestigious Authorized Provider status. IACET Authorized Providers are the only organisations approved to offer IACET Continuing Education Units (CEUs). This accreditation reflects the high quality of training offered by IMDP, and the commitment to excellence demonstrated by the instructors and staff who have worked with the programme since its inception in 2004.

Leading Management Teams
Bangkok, Thailand
28 June–10 Julyµ
Application deadline: 10 May 2010

Become a leader who brings measurable changes to a health programme through a comprehensive approach to performance management. In this two-week course, participants will receive training to:
• Achieve higher success rates through enhanced team performance.
• Implement changes in an organisation that build greater staff commitment, competence and confidence.
• Develop team members through coaching and mentoring.
• Create measurable results in a health programme through long-term planning. For detailed course information, please click here.

Mass Media and Communications
Singapore
4–8 May 2010
Application deadline: Late applications accepted on a space-available basis

Gain a greater understanding of how effective communications strategies can help promote health programmes and further disseminate important health messages to the public. Participants in this one-week course will receive training to:
• Create powerful health education messages.
• Increase advocacy abilities for community mobilisation.
• Discover how to manage a communications crisis.
• Prepare a communications plan for a health organisation For detailed course information, please click here.

41st Union World Conference on Lung Health
11–15 November 2010
 Berlin, Germany
“TB, HIV and lung health: from research and innovation to solutions”

Conference website now open
The official website of the 41st Union World Conference is now open. Feel free to consult it for information about the preliminary programme and start planning the sessions you would like to attend. Visit often as the contents will be regularly updated. Please click here to visit the site now.

Abstract submission is closed
Online submission of abstracts is closed. Over 1,100 abstracts were submitted. They are currently being reviewed by a panel of international experts. In early July, authors who have not received any notification following the abstract reviewing process should contact the Conference Secretariat to be informed on the final status of their submission.

Exhibition and sponsorship opportunities
With activities from seven regions (Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and South East-Asia) and 3,000 international delegates expected, The Union World Conference offers a wide range of opportunities to organisations wishing to showcase their products and expertise. They are invited to take part in the commercial exhibition and/or sponsor an activity during the conference. To read more about these opportunities, click here and book now! This is a excellent opportunity chance to spread your reputation worldwide. For more information or questions, click here.

Report on the 14th Annual conference of The Union North American Region
The 14th conference of the Union North America Region was held on March 11–13, 2010 at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando, Florida, USA. This event was another success for the region, not only in terms of the programme, but also because of the number of participants from the Caribbean Region. Other participants travelled from as far away as Korea, Dubai and Algeria. Delegates from North America, Latin America and Mexico included scientists, academicians, researchers, clinicians, nurses, laboratorians, public health professionals, students and allied health care professionals. Travel grants were awarded to 15 participants from eight countries – Brazil, Guyana, Antigua, Suriname, Haiti, El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago and Mexico.
Dr Jean William Pape, Director, Les Centres, GHESKIO, received the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Ms. Joy Marshall, York Region, Ontario received the Service Award. Highlights of the meeting included keynote speakers: former US President Bill Clinton (via tape), Dr Jean William Pape and Dr Paul Farmer. Overall, participants’ feedback was that it was an another excellent meeting, and the NAR conference is now considered the premier meeting on tuberculosis in North America.  Presentations given at this conference are available at: http://www.bc.lung.ca/association_and_services/union.html
Next year's conference has been scheduled for 24–26 February 2011 in Vancouver, Canada. To read the flyer announcing the conference, click here.

Report on the 13th Conference of The Union Latin American Region
Lung health, tuberculosis and tobacco were some of the key issues discussed at the conference held in San Salvador, El Salvador, on 17 March 2010. The main objectives of the conference and of the other adjunct events were the unification and standardisation of criteria for dealing with pneumology in Central and South America.

Become a Union member in 2010 As we commence 2010 – the Year of the Lung as well as our 90th anniversary – there has never been a more exciting time to become a member of The Union. As Union members, organisations and individuals affiliate with one of The Union’s seven regions and collaborate on a variety of activities, such as conferences that focus on regional issues, training sessions, newsletters and campaigns to keep lung health high on the political and scientific agenda of their region. Join The Union or renew your membership now at http://registration.theunion.org/index.php?currserv=MbShp