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‘Tubercle’ and the international union against tuberculosis
Tubercle (1975), 56, 16 1
LEADING
ARTICLE
‘TUBERCLE’ AND THE 1NTERNATIONAL
UNION AGAINST
TUBERCULOSlS
For the past 26 years Tubercle has been the journal of a national organization. From the end of this year it will be associated with an international one. The work of the International Union against Tuberculosis is too little known. It deserves much wider support; particularly at this difficult phase when tuberculosis is needing less and less attention in many countries but demanding more and more in others. The activities of the Union go far beyond organizing large international conferences. These are important. But the more important functions of the Union are less publicized - and some of their value is, indeed, difficult to define. One of the functions is the organization of scientific committees. There are at present 6 of these: bacteriology and immunology; diagnostic methods; epidemiology; prophylaxis; treatment; tuberculosis in animals. The committees bring together at the annual meetings experts from many countries to discuss recent advances of knowledge in their various fields; to identify profitable fields for further research; and where appropriate to initiate and carry out research projects. Much of their value is indirect. They form a unique forum in the field of tuberculosis for the communication of ideas and dissemination of knowledge by personal contact between clinicians, bacteriologists, epidemiologists, medical administrators, veterinary scientists and others from all parts of the world. The Tuberculosis Surveillance Research Unit, which is associated with the Union, studies some of the fundamental epidemiological problems, with particular relation to future control measures. The International Tuberculosis Surveillance Centre offers an international service for estimating the risk of tuberculous infection in a country and monitoring its changes - an essential element of surveillance of the efficacy of control measures. Direct help to countries is provided through the Mutual Assistance Programme. At present several projects are being carried out in South East Asia, in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia, with financial support from the Canadian Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Association and the Canadian International Development Agency. In Africa, projects have been initiated in Mali with funds collected in the Netherlands by the Rotterdam Antituberculosis Committee; and in Upper Volta, where a WHO/IUAT project has been launched in which tuberculosis and leprosy control activities are to be associated; this is sponsored by the Order of Malta and the German episcopal Organization, Misereor. Within the framework of its Mutual Assistance Programme, the IUAT also participates in training and educational activities with the organization of regional and national seminars: recently a Panafrican seminar was held in Yaounde involving 19 countries with financial support from the Rotterdam Antituberculosis Committee, the French National Committee Against Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, the Chest and Heart Association of Great Britain and the National Association of Finland. Another seminar was organized jointly with WHO in Bangladesh with the financial assistance of Canada. Similar activities will be sponsored this year in Latin America, in the Middle East and also in Africa and South East Asia. Bacteriological and epidemiological studies are being done in Africa, with the assistance of the French Committee, the Assistance Publique and the Institut Pasteur in Paris. The Union publishes the Bulfetin, which is distributed to individual members. This is concerned mainly with reports of international and regional conferences and the meetings of the Scientific Committees. Its other publication, ‘T’, is designed primarily for non-medical readers. Individual members also receive reprints of publications from the Bulletin of the World Health Organization concerned with tuberculosis and allied subjects.
The Constituent Members of the Union are the national voluntary organizations. Anyone ma) become an Individual Member for a subscription of 75 F.F. a year. An important development in the last few years within the Union has been the evolution of ;I regional structure. At first the Union was a loose association of voluntary organizations from many countries throughout the world, with headquarters in Paris. It was international in stated objectives and membership, but largely influenced by the countries of Europe and North America. Now. althqugh the administrative centre is still in Paris, it is moving towards a federal structure of Regions in which the countries with the greatest tuberculosis problems can play a greater part in influencing policy and can receive more benefits from international cooperation. This evolution is wholly desirable: but it poses problems. For, while the emphasis shifts to the ‘developing’ countries the financial power remains with the European and North American so-called ‘developed’ ones. And in these countries interest in tuberculosis and financial support from voluntary organizations arc declining. In an attempt to maintain support the scope of the Union’s activities has been enlarged to include other chest diseases and community health and for the first time non-tuberculosis subjects will be themes for scientific reports at the XXlllrd International Tuberculosis Conference in Mexico in September of this year. A European Region has been formed, to try to stimulate and maintain interest - and financial support - from European countries. These moves, long debated, may be wise. But there are obvious dangers. Tuberculosis is the body of the Union: other respiratory diseases the tail. The tail must not be allowed to wag the dog. Tuberculosis must not be neglected, especially in countries where international interest and aid are most needed. The Union in its present form deserves and urgently requires support from all countries and from all people interested in the world-wide control of tuberculosis. This is the international organization with which Tuhercle will be associated from the end of this year. The journal has for a long time been ‘international’ in content and circulation, although partly owned by a national Association. In future it will be fully international, sponsored by a longestablished. influential, active and developing international organization, with editorial control by a representative international committee. Its objective remains unaltered: to publish as widely as possible only the best original articles on all aspects of tuberculosis in the best possible way.
LEADING
ARTICLE
‘TUBERCLE’ AND THE 1NTERNATIONAL
UNION AGAINST
TUBERCULOSlS
For the past 26 years Tubercle has been the journal of a national organization. From the end of this year it will be associated with an international one. The work of the International Union against Tuberculosis is too little known. It deserves much wider support; particularly at this difficult phase when tuberculosis is needing less and less attention in many countries but demanding more and more in others. The activities of the Union go far beyond organizing large international conferences. These are important. But the more important functions of the Union are less publicized - and some of their value is, indeed, difficult to define. One of the functions is the organization of scientific committees. There are at present 6 of these: bacteriology and immunology; diagnostic methods; epidemiology; prophylaxis; treatment; tuberculosis in animals. The committees bring together at the annual meetings experts from many countries to discuss recent advances of knowledge in their various fields; to identify profitable fields for further research; and where appropriate to initiate and carry out research projects. Much of their value is indirect. They form a unique forum in the field of tuberculosis for the communication of ideas and dissemination of knowledge by personal contact between clinicians, bacteriologists, epidemiologists, medical administrators, veterinary scientists and others from all parts of the world. The Tuberculosis Surveillance Research Unit, which is associated with the Union, studies some of the fundamental epidemiological problems, with particular relation to future control measures. The International Tuberculosis Surveillance Centre offers an international service for estimating the risk of tuberculous infection in a country and monitoring its changes - an essential element of surveillance of the efficacy of control measures. Direct help to countries is provided through the Mutual Assistance Programme. At present several projects are being carried out in South East Asia, in Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia, with financial support from the Canadian Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Association and the Canadian International Development Agency. In Africa, projects have been initiated in Mali with funds collected in the Netherlands by the Rotterdam Antituberculosis Committee; and in Upper Volta, where a WHO/IUAT project has been launched in which tuberculosis and leprosy control activities are to be associated; this is sponsored by the Order of Malta and the German episcopal Organization, Misereor. Within the framework of its Mutual Assistance Programme, the IUAT also participates in training and educational activities with the organization of regional and national seminars: recently a Panafrican seminar was held in Yaounde involving 19 countries with financial support from the Rotterdam Antituberculosis Committee, the French National Committee Against Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, the Chest and Heart Association of Great Britain and the National Association of Finland. Another seminar was organized jointly with WHO in Bangladesh with the financial assistance of Canada. Similar activities will be sponsored this year in Latin America, in the Middle East and also in Africa and South East Asia. Bacteriological and epidemiological studies are being done in Africa, with the assistance of the French Committee, the Assistance Publique and the Institut Pasteur in Paris. The Union publishes the Bulfetin, which is distributed to individual members. This is concerned mainly with reports of international and regional conferences and the meetings of the Scientific Committees. Its other publication, ‘T’, is designed primarily for non-medical readers. Individual members also receive reprints of publications from the Bulletin of the World Health Organization concerned with tuberculosis and allied subjects.
The Constituent Members of the Union are the national voluntary organizations. Anyone ma) become an Individual Member for a subscription of 75 F.F. a year. An important development in the last few years within the Union has been the evolution of ;I regional structure. At first the Union was a loose association of voluntary organizations from many countries throughout the world, with headquarters in Paris. It was international in stated objectives and membership, but largely influenced by the countries of Europe and North America. Now. althqugh the administrative centre is still in Paris, it is moving towards a federal structure of Regions in which the countries with the greatest tuberculosis problems can play a greater part in influencing policy and can receive more benefits from international cooperation. This evolution is wholly desirable: but it poses problems. For, while the emphasis shifts to the ‘developing’ countries the financial power remains with the European and North American so-called ‘developed’ ones. And in these countries interest in tuberculosis and financial support from voluntary organizations arc declining. In an attempt to maintain support the scope of the Union’s activities has been enlarged to include other chest diseases and community health and for the first time non-tuberculosis subjects will be themes for scientific reports at the XXlllrd International Tuberculosis Conference in Mexico in September of this year. A European Region has been formed, to try to stimulate and maintain interest - and financial support - from European countries. These moves, long debated, may be wise. But there are obvious dangers. Tuberculosis is the body of the Union: other respiratory diseases the tail. The tail must not be allowed to wag the dog. Tuberculosis must not be neglected, especially in countries where international interest and aid are most needed. The Union in its present form deserves and urgently requires support from all countries and from all people interested in the world-wide control of tuberculosis. This is the international organization with which Tuhercle will be associated from the end of this year. The journal has for a long time been ‘international’ in content and circulation, although partly owned by a national Association. In future it will be fully international, sponsored by a longestablished. influential, active and developing international organization, with editorial control by a representative international committee. Its objective remains unaltered: to publish as widely as possible only the best original articles on all aspects of tuberculosis in the best possible way.