4th National Congress of Tropical Medicine - Chronic respiratory diseases and tuberculosis pre-congress seminar

Abstract

On the 18th of April of 2017, the Institute of Tropical Medicine of the Nova University of Lisbon IHMT held the Pre-Congress Seminar, "Chronic respiratory diseases and tuberculosis". The seminar was organised comprising the following objectives: to increase the visibility and importance of chronic respiratory diseases in lusophone and international space; to provide opportunity of collaboration in the Lusophone space; to lay the foundations for the creation of a future Lusophone GARD. The GARD-WHO, Global Alliance is a voluntary Alliance of national and international organizations whose vision is a world in which everyone can breathe freely. Its main goal is to reduce the global burden on Chronic Respiratory Diseases worldwide. The main diseases encompassed are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), allergic rhinitis and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. At the seminar presentations were made on present situation of respiratory diseases in Portugal, Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde and Brazil and on Tuberculosis and other Mycobacteria in Portugal and Brazil. Also, presentations and discussion on GARD ‘projects and international trends of this Alliance work took place. The evolution to a Lusophone GARD was agreed, expressing the desire for cooperation between countries and in Portuguese, which contemplates chronic respiratory diseases and tuberculosis. It was expressed the willingness in promoting training in Portuguese between countries at a clinical and technical level was expressed, of placing the issue of respiratory diseases on the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Language Speaking Countries) Ministers of Health’ agenda meeting and in each country, at ministerial level; in increasing the knowledge in in the following areas: prevalence of risk factors, prevalence of diseases and burden of disease, available treatments, drugs and diagnostic means in different countries and settings.