X-ray of a human lung.
Pace Center for Global Health

Elevating Lung Health in Mexico

Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRDs), including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), affect more than half a billion people worldwide and remain a leading cause of preventable death. Despite their scale and impact, CRDs have long been underrepresented in global media coverage, limiting public understanding and policy action.

In response to this gap, the Pace Center for Global Health, in strategic collaboration with José Luis Castro, World Health Organization (WHO) Director‑General’s Special Envoy for Chronic Respiratory Diseases, launched a global journalism training initiative aimed at bringing greater visibility to lung health. The Mexico City workshop marked the inaugural convening of this series, setting the foundation for subsequent trainings in other regions.

Building Capacity for Impactful Health Reporting

Held in Mexico City, the workshop brought together 15 local, regional, and international journalists working across health, science, and environmental beats. The program was designed to strengthen journalists’ understanding of the complex drivers of respiratory disease and to support more informed, compelling, and sustained reporting on CRDs.

Through expert‑led sessions and discussion, participants explored:

  • The global and regional burden of asthma and COPD
  • The health impacts of tobacco use and air pollution
  • Innovations in diagnostics, treatment, and care delivery
  • The global health architecture shaping respiratory disease prevention and response

The training emphasized the critical role of journalism in translating science into stories that resonate with the public, influence policy debates, and elevate patient experiences often left unheard.

The Mexico City workshop established the core framework that continues to guide this global training initiative:

  • Sensitization and Education
    Equipping journalists with a nuanced understanding of chronic respiratory diseases, their public health impact, and the intersecting political, social, economic, and environmental determinants that shape outcomes.
  • Story Development
    Supporting the creation of compelling, global‑ready narratives that spotlight patient voices, policy implications, and emerging innovations, while encouraging the use of multimedia, podcasts, and photojournalism.
  • Resource Cultivation
    Connecting participants with a trusted network of medical experts, advocates, and data resources to enable continued reporting beyond the workshop and strengthen long‑term coverage of respiratory health.

Key Voices and Contributors

Journalists engaged directly with leading voices in respiratory health, advocacy, and global policy, including:

  • Dra. Carmen Margarita Hernández Cárdenas, Director, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (INER)
  • José Luis Castro, WHO Director‑General’s Special Envoy for CRDs / Pace Center for Global Health
  • Dr. Sarah Rylance, Medical Officer, NCD Management Unit, World Health Organization
  • Dr. Vivian Perez, WHO Mexico
  • Erick Ochoa, CEO, Salud Justa
  • Jaime Barba, Patient Advocate, Exhala (COPD)
  • Jacqui Thornton, Journalist and Moderator, The Lancet

A Global Media Network

The Mexico City workshop convened journalists from leading newsrooms across multiple regions, laying the groundwork for a growing global network committed to strengthening coverage of lung health.

Participating outlets included The Lancet World Report, La Reforma, Le Monde, El País, BBC Online, Channel 4 News, The Times of India, Folha de S. Paulo, Al‑Ahram, The Daily Nation, and Devex, among others.