The Saharan fennec fox survives with oversized ears—adapting to heat, for thermoregulation, and silence for better hunting. We may need to be like fennecs to better listen to the communities battling respiratory diseases and facing challenges such as the extreme heat impacting on lungs.

Our theme of Listening Deeply has been carefully selected to reflect the complexity of our experience in the region. Faced with challenges of tobacco dependence, and environmental dust and heat, respiratory problems are common. People attend a range of different healthcare professionals to find a diagnosis and treatment. These professionals have varying educational backgrounds, equipment and support teams. Our goal is to simplify pathways for our patients so that they all get access to good quality diagnosis and management; and those who need onward referral receive this in a timely and effective way.