The Union World Conference on Lung Health 2024 in Bali brought together over 4,000 delegates from around the world to share groundbreaking research and initiatives addressing lung health. The Aurum Institute made a significant impact, with its experts presenting innovative solutions and leading discussions on tuberculosis (TB), post-COVID-19 care, digital adherence technologies, and community-driven health interventions.
Advancing Research and Care Across Health Priorities
Prof. Salome Charalambous, Aurum’s Group Chief Health Officer, was a central figure at the conference. Her poster presentation, Delays in treatment initiation affect TB severity in four African countries: a cross-sectional survey, revealed that delayed treatment often leads to advanced TB, increased severity, and higher transmission rates. She highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and integrated care to mitigate these outcomes.
In the Community Connect session on Post-TB Health and Wellbeing, organised by TU Delft, she presented findings from the TB Sequel II project. This initiative seeks to address post-TB lung disease (PTLD) through improved care at healthcare sites in South Africa, Mozambique, The Gambia, and Tanzania; expanded scientific knowledge; and the prioritisation of PTLD within global health agendas.
In a another poster, Prof. Charalambous presented findings on the effectiveness of a group rehabilitation intervention for individuals recovering from COVID-19 in South Africa. The intervention demonstrated improvements in psychological wellbeing and quality of life, underscoring the value of multidisciplinary approaches in post-COVID-19 care.
Aurum’s Junior Research Manager, Tanyaradzwa Dube, presented a poster exploring the acceptability of digital adherence technologies (DATs), such as the EvriMED box, among people with Rifampicin-Resistant TB. Her findings emphasised the importance of combining DATs with psychosocial and economic support for a holistic and effective approach to TB care.
Aurum’s Market Access Director, Makaita Gombe, participated in the symposium session TB Preventive Treatment for Children: Where Are We and What’s Next? In her presentation, Protecting Our Young: Enabling Implementation of 3HP in Children with Age-Appropriate Formulations, she highlighted significant progress in paediatric TB treatment. Notably, 1.9 million paediatric rifapentine tablets have been procured to date, ensuring that more children can access this life-saving TB preventive treatment.
Driving Policy and Advocacy
Beyond research, Aurum played a pivotal role in shaping discussions on TB policy and advocacy. In the Advocacy Across Borders session, Aurum supported the 1/4/6x24 Campaign, a global initiative advocating for equitable access to shorter TB treatment regimens. The session underscored the critical need for partnerships between communities and governments to achieve health equity and scale life-saving treatments across the continent.
Prof. Charalambous also featured in a Union Live interview, addressing the unique challenges faced by incarcerated populations, who are especially vulnerable to TB. As Chair of the Union TB in Prisons Working Group, she reinforced the need for evidence-based, community-driven approaches to address TB disparities in these settings.
Community and Paediatric Engagement
Aurum’s commitment to community-centred research was showcased by Blossom Makhubalo, Aurum’s Community Engagement Manager, whose presentation demonstrated how partnerships in Matlosana, South Africa, improved participation in TB trials and advanced health outcomes. Meanwhile, Dr Juli Switala, Senior Technical Specialist, highlighted the urgent need for streamlined TB care pathways for children, proposing tools to close gaps in paediatric TB prevention and treatment.
Tackling TB in Vulnerable Communities
Aurum’s Research Manager, Nasiphi Ntombela, presented at the symposium Ending TB Disparities in Prisons through Evidence-Based, Community-Engaged Approaches, chaired by Prof. Charalambous. Nasiphi’s presentation, focused on supporting formerly incarcerated individuals in accessing TB care, addressed barriers such as stigma and healthcare system complexities. Her insights highlighted the growing success of interventions designed to bridge gaps in care for vulnerable populations.
Union 2024 underscored the collective commitment to addressing TB and lung health challenges. In her closing address, Union Executive Director, Dr Karen Middelkoop, encouraged attendees to transform insights from the conference into actionable strategies to end TB.
Aurum’s diverse contributions – from groundbreaking research to policy advocacy and community engagement – reflect our unwavering dedication to advancing global lung health. With a focus on equity, innovation, and collaboration, Aurum continues to lead efforts that ensure better health outcomes for all.
As the conference concluded, the message was clear: Together, we can end TB. We looks forward to continuing its mission and building on these achievements at next year’s conference in Copenhagen.
