The first ever World Lung Day is being marked globally on 25 September. Organised by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS), the day’s focus is the World Charter of Lung Health.

FIRS is aiming for 100,000 signatures on the Charter, which calls on the WHO director-general and members of the World Health Assembly to ensure better lung health worldwide. FIRS notes that three million people die from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease each year, making it the third leading cause of death worldwide.

10 million people develop tuberculosis and 1.4 million die from it each year, making it the most common lethal infectious disease.

World Lung Day will also provide an advocacy platform so that people affected by and working against respiratory disease around the world can breathe life into the fight for respiratory health.

334 million people suffer from asthma, making it the most common chronic disease of childhood.

Sign the Charter and learn more about World Lung Day via the links below.