LUNG HEALTH CASE STUDY

PRE-EVENT PLANNING

Liverpool won its bid to host to the 47th World Conference on Lung Health with previous locations including South Africa, Spain and Malaysia.  The Union, based in Paris, draws from the best scientific evidence and expertise to advance health solutions to public health challenges affecting people living in low and middle-income countries. It has a powerful global network of 500 experts based in 13 offices and 17,000 Union members/subscribers, whose work in 156 countries has been supported by US$ 540 million in grants and donations. The World Conference is one key element of its work.

OBJECTIVES/ THE BRIEF

With the economic growth that the conference was to bring to the city, it was important for Liverpool to uphold its reputation as an outstanding conference host, as well as a city that is conducting leading research in lung health.

The event provided a platform for those working on fundamental research into tuberculosis and other lung health issues to come together and present new developments.

THE EXECUTION/ SOLUTION

More than 3,000 delegates, speakers and researchers from 125 countries attended the four day conference which included the unveiling of significant research.

The conference opened with a keynote address from Ambassador Stephen Lewis, co-director of AIDS Free World and former United Nations special envoy for AIDS in Africa. It featured a panel of Ministers of Health who reflected on the political commitments and actions in achieving the global targets of ending TB and tobacco-related diseases.

Activity included the lighting of three open fires inside miniaturised replica housing on the venue’s piazza to demonstrate air pollution and fire risks. Liverpool Homeless Football Club hosted a programme of mini football tournaments also on the piazza to encourage the participation of those communities affected by HIV/AIDS, TB and other lung diseases, as well as World Conference delegates and members of the public.

PRODUCTION

The production team provided full production services and equipment for all areas, creating bespoke content and displaying it on projectors.  Read more here...

POST EVENT ANALYSIS/ THE RESULTS

The five day conference was expected to generate around £7.8m in economic benefit for Liverpool.

José Luis Castro, executive director of The Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) said: “Liverpool is a city that has been at the cutting edge of public health for many decades and it proved its reputation as an outstanding conference host city. We received an especially warm welcome from the ACC Liverpool team.  Feedback from the academics who came from all over the world to attend was very positive.  The conference went really well – ACC Liverpool was the perfect venue for us to showcase the world’s best scientific and public policy solutions that will help the world finally end TB for good.”