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Crown Princess of Japan delivers remarks at Lung Health Conference

Crown Princess Akishino of Japan delivered a video message about lung health on the opening day of the 51st Union World Conference on Lung Health earlier this week.

The Crown Princess, who has made the issue of lung health and awareness of tuberculosis a key part of her royal work, spoke from her home in Tokyo to the attendees of the Union World Conference on Lung Health.

Crown Princess Kiko said:

“Your Excellencies, honoured guests, distinguished members of the Union Conference participants, it is a great pleasure for me to participate virtually in this 51st Union World Conference on Lung Health. I would like to thank all those who have made this conference possible this year, which has been a difficult period of time for all of us because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I am also grateful to the numerous professionals with experience in a fight against TB who have been making great contributions in the global fight against COVID-19.

“The World Health Organisation has named 2020 the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, and I would like to acknowledge the critical role that nurses and midwives are playing in the response to COVID-19. For instance, in the case of Japan, public health centres and public health nurses have been devoted to preventing the spread of the disease through measures such as counselling patients and coordinating their hospitalisation.

“At the same time, COVID-19 is creating an extremely great challenge to our efforts on public health. This is a historic challenge that is affecting every country in the world, and there is a risk that years of progress against TB may be reversed. We can, and must, prevent this from happening. The Union has a vital role with its members, so important in our efforts relating to TB and lung health.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to you, the members of the Union, who must have been working extremely hard to fight against TB at this very difficult time. I’m also very grateful to the Union for disseminating valuable information around the world. You have the knowledge, you have the experience, you have the influence that the world needs right now.

“I would like to convey my deep respect to the Union, which has a long history of working together against TB and other respiratory diseases, uniting efforts to achieve health globally over the past 100 years. Thanks to the efforts of the past 100 years, we are gifted with so many tools. We are very fortunate to have measures to prevent TB. However, we still have a problem.

“The problem is that we are yet to fully implement the means that we already have in our hands. The theme of this year’s conference, advancing prevention, is so timely. I am sure that the conference will be a very fruitful one for everyone.

“We are also facing challenges related to human nature. Fears and anxieties may fuel dangers of exclusion and stigma, which work against proper prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Smoking continues to be another problem related to human nature. But I know many people, including health professionals and volunteers in civil society who care for the physical and mental health of everybody, including the vulnerable people. I appreciate their activities very much. [The] Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association’s Women’s Society, which has been voluntarily carrying out activities to increase public awareness of TB in local communities is one example.

“The Union gives us hope. The Union brings us together from so many parts of the world toward the common goal of ending TB. We shall continue our precious task to bring about a healthy world for all of us, for our children, and for future generations.

“Thank you very much.”  

The 51st Union World Conference on Lung Health aims to bring together the world’s leading professionals to discuss ways to eradicate lung diseases. One of its main focuses this year was how TB and lung health is affected by COVID-19.

“It is a huge honour and privilege that HIH Crown Princess Akishino of Japan will return to our Union World Conference this year,” José Luis Castro, Executive Director of The Union, said in a statement.

“Her influence and steadfast commitment to ending TB will act as a powerful example to leaders worldwide, who must drive the meaningful policy change needed if we are to collectively advance prevention of TB and lung disease.”

About author

Jess Ilse is the Assistant Editor at Royal Central. She specialises in the British, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish Royal Families and has been following royalty since Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee. Jess has provided commentary for media outlets in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Jess works in communications and her debut novel THE MAJESTIC SISTERS will publish in Fall 2024.