The Department for International Development (DFID) today published a performance agreement for its engagement with the World Health Organisation, which notes that in 2017 two of its top priorities for engagement with the WHO will be TB and AMR.

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Indeed, DFID calls for the world to ‘step up on TB’. The document states that:

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“Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

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The UK has led for the world in raising to global prominence the threat of antimicrobial resistance, catalysing global action. The Chief Medical Officer and Lord O’Neil (who led the UK’s Independent Review on AMR) deserve particular praise for their instrumental roles.

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In 2017, the UK will continue to provide international influence on AMR. We will press WHO to ensure successful follow up to the United Nations High Level Meeting on AMR and the delivery of objectives through international partnerships and frameworks such as the Global Health Security Agenda and the G20.

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Tuberculosis (TB).

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TB is the world’s biggest infectious disease killer: 1.8 million deaths in 2015. Yet as a global issue, TB is relatively neglected. It lacks high profile global leadership. Progress on reducing cases has been slow. Marginalised and stigmatised populations are at higher risk.

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The world needs to step up on TB.

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In 2017, the UK will press the case for greater focus on TB, including through a successful outcome focused Ministerial Conference in Moscow in November 2017 and a UN General Assembly event in 2018. We will encourage WHO to update the TB research roadmap and use it to drive global research priorities.”

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Further details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/performance-agreement-between-the-world-health-organisation-and-the-united-kingdom-of-great-britain-and-northern-ireland