The EU-funded LungHealth4Life project was featured in an event at the European Parliament on 4 February as part of a Healthy Lungs for Life exhibition organised by Lungs Europe, a partnership of the European Lung Foundation and European Respiratory Society.
The event brought together policymakers, advocates, healthcare professionals and patients to build support for stronger action on lung health. It explored steps to prevent lung disease, the policies needed to prioritise lung health, and the importance of early diagnosis.
Patient advocate Helen Parks presented the LungHealth4Life project on behalf of Anna Andrałojć from the Polish Federation of Asthma, Allergy and COPD Patients’ Association, emphasising the significant burden that respiratory diseases place on both individuals and healthcare systems.
In a speech, Helen highlighted how international collaboration is promoting lung health and improving health education:
“The LungHealth4Life project is a prime example of successful collaboration: launched in September 2024, it is a three-year initiative bringing together the experiences and efforts of three countries – Hungary, Poland, and Portugal – in the field of health education for children and their parents.”
Involving young people in lung health action was key to the event discussions. Providing a valuable youth perspective, Chair of the European Lung Foundation Youth Group Ed Powell shared insights on the importance of engaging young people in the fight for better lung health. He said:
“It is crucial that young people’s voices are heard, especially in lung health. The power of
having energetic young people advocating for their own issues is astonishing. It allows for much more impactful policy discussions with the generation that these policies will affect directly. By including young voices, we ensure that our problems aren’t forgotten, and we can provide real insights into how to connect with and impact the younger generation.”
This project is co-funded under the EU4Health Programme 2021–2027 under grant agreement no. 101101187. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
