This week, as Liz Truss attended her first United Nations general assembly as prime minister, she was due to outline her government’s plans to put Britain on the world stage. The Global Fund engagement conference, which took place on Wednesday, was an opportunity for the UK to show its continued support and commitment to this vital organisation. Unfortunately, no commitment was given. I welcome the UK’s continued political commitment to the Global Fund, but I am deeply concerned about the lack of funding. While the government refuses to commit the required funding, time is running out to fight these diseases and millions of lives hang in the balance. Failure to fight outbreaks abroad puts us all at risk at home In 2019, the UK gave £1.4 billion to the fund’s last replenishment, making Britain the second-largest donor after the US. During the life of the Global Fund, the UK was the third largest donor, paving the way for others to follow. This year, the Global Fund aims to raise a total of $18 billion and is asking the UK to commit £1.82 billion, a 30% increase from 2019. Investment in the Global Fund has been a top priority for the UK and we have been at the forefront line of struggle to end these epidemics – now is not the time to ask for our support. As the Independent Commission on Aid Impact, the UK’s aid watchdog, said in its recent report: the Global Fund is the project covered by the government’s Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) and is the most value for money . With this in mind, it is hard to believe that the government is choosing to ignore the facts and not fully commit to this cause. British taxpayers’ money has been at the heart of investment in the Global Fund and helping to eradicate these diseases for two decades. It would not provide value for money, and no return on our investment, not to pledge the full amount and urgently. Failure to combat the spread of these epidemics abroad puts us all at risk at home. The domestic fight against these diseases is based on the global effort to eradicate them. The struggle does not end at our doorstep. This is particularly clear from the Covid-19 pandemic. This showed how interconnected our world is and how easily viruses and diseases in one country can affect our public health. Another example of this is the fight against polio. In 2021, the UK stopped funding the Global Pyelitis Initiative. We have now seen the polio virus making a comeback in this country and it is worrying that cases are increasing after it has been eradicated around the world. The fight against HIV, TB and malaria is far from over, which makes it all the more worrying that the UK is shirking its global commitments, putting us all at risk. It is outrageous that the UK remains one of the last countries to commit, but there is still time to confirm our position as a leader in international development. The UK needs to make an ambitious commitment and match the 30% increase we have seen from our G7 allies. The time for empty words is over. Real action must be taken to support the world’s most vulnerable. They need our commitment, and they need it now.
