Development Aid: Aspergillosis
(asked on 23rd March 2022) - View Source
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of call by the Global Action Fund for Fungal Infections to improve diagnostic capability for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, especially aspergillus antibody detection and antifungal therapy; and whether UK aid is assisting this work.
Answered by
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Global Action for Fungal infections has called for improved diagnostic capability for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. The call notes the difficulties in diagnosing chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and the similarity of symptoms to TB.
Whilst the UK does not directly fund diagnosis and treatment of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, we invest in TB treatment and care through our current £1.4 billion pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and invests in research to develop new diagnostics and treatments for TB through our partner FIND (The Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics). The UK's focus is to support countries to strengthen their health systems to address all causes of ill health.