This week, Chair of TB Europe Coalition Board Paul Sommerfeld and representatives of the European Lung Health Group from Lungs Europe met with the MEP Marit Maij, Member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, during the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg.
We discussed the importance of international cooperation for the treatment of respiratory diseases and, in particular, tuberculosis which, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing countries.
We also raised
important issues related to health and safety measures at the workplace, and
protection of workers from occupational lung diseases caused by
certain work environments, such as factories, mining, fires, construction and
agriculture. Diseases such as work-related asthma, allergy or pneumoconiosis
are caused by the long-term exposure of unsafe chemicals and dust that are
breathed in the lungs. That is why preventing further exposure and diagnosing
the lungs in a timely manner can benefit the worker's health.
We hope
that over the next 5 years we will have a chance to work on these issues
together with Mrs Marit Maij and make lung health a priority. We would like to thank our reliable partner and member of the TBEC
Oversight Advisory Committee Beatrijs Stikkers for the opportunity of this
meeting.
In addition, a brief meeting with another member of European Parliament, Mr. Nicolae Ştefanuta from Romania, also took place on 17 September thanks to the support of Cristina Enache, member of the TBEC Board.
