On Tuesday 25th March, the newly reconstituted All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Global Tuberculosis, which Results UK provides the Secretariat for , hosted a high-profile World TB Day reception in Parliament. The event brought together parliamentarians, global health experts, diplomats and advocates to highlight the urgent need for renewed political leadership and action to end the TB epidemic.
Tuberculosis remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, yet progress to end it is falling dangerously behind global targets. The reception was an important moment to draw attention not only to the global burden of TB, but also to domestic challenges here in the UK, the need for new vaccines, and the critical role of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
The event was chaired by Lord Nick Herbert and featured a powerful line-up of speakers:
- Minister Catherine West, Minister for the Indo-Pacific, who reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to global health.
- Dineo Mathlako, Deputy High Commissioner at the South African High Commission, who announced that South Africa would increase its Global Fund pledge by 25% — an important demonstration of leadership from an affected country.
- Dr Eliud Wandwalo, Head of TB at the Global Fund, who outlined the Fund’s vital role in saving millions of lives and the need for a fully funded 8th Replenishment.
- Dr Kundai Chinyenze, Head of Africa at IAVI, who spoke about the urgent need for new TB vaccines and innovation.
- Dr Jess Potter, Chair of the UK Academics and Professionals to End TB Network, who addressed the domestic TB context and called for stronger UK action.
- Kinz ul-Eman, CEO of the DOPASI Foundation in Pakistan, who shared first-hand experience of community-led TB responses.
The speakers reflected the strong partnerships that the APPG has built with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), IAVI, the Global Fund, and domestic TB experts across the UK.
This reception also acted as an important platform to raise awareness among UK parliamentarians and stakeholders about the upcoming 8th Global Fund Replenishment and to mobilise cross-party support for a robust UK contribution.
We thank everyone who attended and spoke at the event — and for their continued commitment to ending TB for good.
