UK Coalition against NTDs updates: HoL NTD debate/ APPMG letter to SoS
Aparna Barua
Dear all,
I wanted to share updates on two key activities supported by the UK Coalition and its members over the last few weeks:
House of Lords NTD debate, 3 April
· As many of you know the House of Lords had a Question for Short Debate on NTDs last night in the chamber. A transcript of the debate is now out: https://goo.gl/NMbmmS
· A good turnout with 14 peers speaking, strong consistency on calling on active participation by the SoS at the upcoming WHO NTD Summit Partners meeting alongside a call for new resources for NTDs. A number of points were raised including the need to scale up access to treatment alongside investments across disability prevention, morbidity management, R&D for new tools including drugs, diagnostics and vaccines, highlighting a new RDT for sleeping sickness by FIND that has been supported by DFID financing.
· The debate also highlighted the work of several UK institutions and UK Coalition members in delivering UK aid for NTDs including SCI, LSTM, LSHTM/LCNTDR, Wateraid, Leprosy Mission to mention a few.
· Lord Bates was the corresponding DFID Minister. In his response Lord Bates talked about the UK Government sending a high level representative to the Partners meeting on the 19th April but no definite confirmation though we hope very likely, it will involve SoS Priti Patel. Towards the end of his remarks he also highlighted again DFID’s expectation and need for new donors to enter the NTD space:
“At the conclusion of my remarks I come back to that very important summit. While the UK across a number of levels—from our great research base to the work that many people have been doing through medical science in this area—is advancing the cause and has made great progress, it is vitally important that we use the occasion and the platform of the World Health Organization joint summit on NTDs on 19 April to ensure that other donors come forward and meet their responsibilities towards eradicating these diseases and meeting the sustainable development goals in these areas.”
Perhaps this is something we may discuss at the upcoming Coalition quarterly meeting this week. Thank you to everyone in the UK Coalition who supported this debate and additionally offered me information and briefing materials to support APPMG members participation in the debate.
APPMG Closed Briefing Meeting and Letter to SoS on NTD Summit
· Last Wednesday the UK Coalition supported a closed briefing on the NTD Summit hosted by the APPG on Malaria and NTDs. The meeting was chaired by Jeremy Lefroy MP and was attended by Officers and members of the APPG including Pauline Latham MP, Lord Trees, Lord Stone, Viscount Simon and Baroness Barker ). Several of the peers in attendance also took part in the HoL debate on NTDs last night.
· The purpose of the closed briefing meeting was to inform parliamentary champions on the importance of UK Government engagement at the NTD Summit and in particular presence at the partners meeting on the 19th April, and to support a letter to the Secretary of State to call on her participation at the meeting and continued support for NTDs on a global platform.
· Based on consultation between UK Coalition EWG members and the DFID NTD team, speakers invited to the closed meeting included:
o Yael Velleman, on behalf of the UK Coalition gave a short remark on the importance of the WHO NTD Summit
o Dr. Anthony Solomon, NTD Medical Officer, WHO contributions mobilizing UK support to disperse over a billion treatments in the past year
o Dr. Wendy Harrison, SCI to share the work of the DFID NTD Partners and highlighting the role of UK institutions in delivering aid on NTDs and reach
o Dr. Louise Kelly-Hope, LSTM to share the contribution of LSTM’s work across disability and morbidity management
o Virginia Sarah, ICTC highlighting key successes across trachoma, WASH and broader partnerships
· Subsequent to this closed briefing meeting, a sub group of the EWG including Ollie, Helen and Yael prepared the attached letter addressed to the SoS, which has now received 14 signatures including all of the APPMG Officers. I sent this letter direct to the SoS yesterday morning ahead of the HoL debate and is attached for reference. A response is expected to be delivered directly to the APPMG Chair and once I am in receipt I will be happy to share the response.
Happy to discuss further during the UK Coalition meeting scheduled for this Thursday at 10am at the Wateraid office. In the meantime if you have any questions please feel free to contact me directly.
Kind regards,
Aparna
Aparna Barua
Coordinator, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Malaria & Neglected Tropical Diseases (Tues – Wed only)
Manager, Resource Development & Policy
Sabin Foundation Europe | sabinfoundation.org.uk
aparna...@sabinfoundation.org.uk | Direct: +44 (0) 208 004 6432 | Mobile: +44 (0) 755 269 6096
Unit 4, Benwell Studios, 11-13 Benwell Road | London N7 7BL, United Kingdom
Yael Velleman
Thanks Aparna,
Super helpful!
I shared with Iain and Sol, and also internally with our Parliamentary folks.
Yael
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Sian Arulanantham
From: Aparna Barua
Sent: Tuesday, 4 April, 10:37
Subject: UK Coalition against NTDs updates: HoL NTD debate/ APPMG letter to SoS
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Virginia Sarah
Forgive the brevity, sent from my iPhone
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<SoS NTD letter from APPMG_Final.pdf>
Carla Jauregui
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