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Written Question
International Assistance: Coronavirus
Monday 1st June 2020

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Stop TB Partnership's recent report on the impact of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis services; and what support they intend to provide to the Global Fund's COVID-19 Response Mechanism to help countries respond to COVID-19 and mitigate the impacts on HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programmes.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

The UK Government is concerned about the indirect impacts of COVID-19 on other health priorities, including increased rates of HIV, TB and malaria. The Stop TB Partnership’s rapid assessment of COVID-19 and the TB response gives helpful insights into short-term impacts. The modelling report co-commissioned by the Stop TB Partnership outlines longer-term impacts, suggesting that disruptions caused by COVID-19 could lead to an additional 6.3 million TB cases and 1.4 million TB deaths between 2020 and 2025. The findings of both reports are concerning.

The UK Government is taking action, including through support to the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism, which we are funding through our £1.2 billion contribution to the Fifth Replenishment of the Global Fund. Through our multilateral partnerships with organisations like the WHO, and our regional and national programmes, the UK Government also supports developing countries to make their domestic health systems, including their TB programmes, stronger and more resilient.


Written Question
Coronavirus and Tuberculosis: Medical Equipment
Thursday 28th May 2020

Asked by: Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they intend to provide to the Global Drug Facility to avoid shortages of key medical supplies and personal protective equipment for (1) tuberculosis, and (2) COVID-19, caused by current global supply and transport network disruptions.

Answered by Baroness Sugg

Along with other donors the UK is supporting UN agencies, the Red Cross and NGOs to respond to coronavirus in other countries. This includes helping the world’s poorest countries to access critical medical supplies including PPE. UK aid is also helping to increase global production of medical supplies, including PPE. This includes significant support to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to help it work with global manufacturers.

The UK Government does not directly fund the Global Drug Facility, but it does provide significant funding to global bodies to tackle TB. This includes our funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria, which we have committed £1.4 billion to for the next three years. We are also supporting developing countries through our multilateral partnerships with organisations like the WHO, and our regional and national programmes, to make their domestic health systems, including their TB programmes, stronger and more resilient.


Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 18 May 2020
Covid-19: International Response

Speech Link

View all Baroness Northover (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Covid-19: International Response

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 02 Mar 2020
Coronavirus: British Citizens Imprisoned Abroad

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View all Baroness Northover (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Coronavirus: British Citizens Imprisoned Abroad

Speech in Grand Committee - Tue 25 Feb 2020
India: Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019

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View all Baroness Northover (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: India: Citizenship (Amendment) Act 2019

Speech in Lords Chamber - Thu 06 Feb 2020
Female Genital Mutilation

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View all Baroness Northover (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Female Genital Mutilation

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 18 Jun 2019
Syria: Idlib Attacks

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View all Baroness Northover (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Syria: Idlib Attacks

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 30 Jan 2019
Overseas Aid

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View all Baroness Northover (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Overseas Aid

Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 19 Nov 2018
United Nations Relief and Works Agency

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View all Baroness Northover (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: United Nations Relief and Works Agency

Speech in Lords Chamber - Tue 16 Oct 2018
Syria-Jordan Border: Rukban Camp

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View all Baroness Northover (LD - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Syria-Jordan Border: Rukban Camp