Cape Town, Glenview, Lausanne, Montevideo, New York, Paris, Tokyo, November 18, 2015. World COPD Day is observed each year in November to highlight the burden of this chronic respiratory disease affecting more than 200 million people globally and causing about 3 million deaths annually. COPD is the sixth major cause of death and disability in low- and middle income countries and is projected to become the third cause of death by 2020. The economic burden is enormous, in the US alone total costs for COPD were estimated to be about 50 billion USD in 2010.

Amsterdam, September 28, 2015 – The UN Member States have adopted the post 2015 development agenda during their 70^th UN General Assembly meeting in New Work on 25-27 September 2015.

Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS) highlights the need to prevent pneumonia and strengthen management strategies globally as part of the “Decade of the Lung” initiative.

Cape Town, Glenview, Lausanne, Montevideo, New York, Paris, Tokyo, November 12, 2015. The Decade of the Lung initiative, recently launched by FIRS, serves to highlight the importance of respiratory diseases globally. Amongst these, pneumonia is one of the five major respiratory diseases worldwide, responsible for substantial illness in children and adults. Pneumonia is the main cause of death in children under 5 years, of hospitalisation and of health care utilisation.

The Forum of International Respiratory Societies and Its Global Members Aim to Raise Awareness about Lung Cancer Risks through New Initiative

Cape Town, Glenview, Lausanne, Montevideo, New York, Paris, Tokyo, July 29, 2015 – In recognition of World Lung Cancer Day on August 1, the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), launches its World Lung Cancer Day 2015: Honor, Unite, Inspire campaign.